Latest news with #HigherEducationCommission
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Government appoints acting HEC chief
The federal government has appointed Secretary Education Nadeem Mahbub as the acting chairman of Higher Education Commission since Dr Mukhtar Ahmed's term has ended. The Ministry of Education has issued an official notification of the appointment which specifies that the appointment of Nadeem Mahbub will be for three months or until the appointment of a permanent chairman of HEC. Nadeem Mahbub is also a member of the HEC Commission and on this basis, the Prime Minister has appointed him as the acting chairman under sub-clause 3 of Section 8 of the HEC Act. According to sources, the former chairman of HEC made various appointments and transfers yesterday. Mahbub will assume the responsibilities of the Chairman HEC today along with the Secretary Education.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- General
- Express Tribune
Drop in postgraduate admissions hits UoP
The University of Peshawar, one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, is grappling not only with deepening financial troubles but also with a sharp decline in student enrollment in its higher education programs, particularly the M. Phil and PhD disciplines. According to official documents obtained by The Express Tribune, the number of students enrolling in postgraduate research programs has dropped significantly over the past five years. In 2020, 178 students were enrolled in the PhD programs, however, by the academic year 2024-2025, this number had dwindled to just 66 PhD students. Similarly, the total number of postgraduate students, which was 4,708 in 2022, has decreased to 4,081 in 2025. The decline appears to be part of a troubling trend. Data shows that in 2021-2022, 661 students enrolled in M. Phil and 208 in PhD programs. The following year saw a rise, with 800 M. Phil and 223 PhD students. However, the numbers began to fall again in 2023-2024, with 714 M. Phil and 172 PhD students, before plummeting in the current academic year. The university documents further revealed that several departments failed to attract a single PhD candidate over the last five years. These include key disciplines such as computer science, data science, fashion designing, interior designing, software engineering, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Alarmingly, only one student has enrolled in the PhD program for Computer Science since 2020. Equally concerning is the lack of interest in foundational social science disciplines. Departments like political science, psychology, regional studies, and Urdu saw no new admissions in recent years. The absence of enrollment in such core subjects reflects a growing disillusionment among students, raising concerns about the university's academic environment. Tufail Khan, a prospective M. Phil student who was unable to secure enrollment, blamed the academic staff for neglecting their responsibilities. "Teachers don't take interest in classes. Many of them are preoccupied with foreign students because they receive stipends from international programs. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) must establish guidelines requiring faculty to actively supervise postgraduate students and ensure annual PhD completions. However, no one here holds the teachers accountable," he noted. Khan further alleged that many faculty members were distracted by part-time jobs, social media, and foreign-funded projects, leaving little time for teaching or student mentorship. This, he claimed, is one of the major reasons behind the growing academic disconnect on campus. Speaking on the issue, Dr Danish Baber, a researcher and head of the creative wing at the Directorate of Information and PR, pointed to soaring tuition fees as a major barrier. "Students do enroll, but most cannot afford to continue their education. Persistent government budget cuts have forced public universities to raise fees annually in order to survive. Until the government increases funding for higher education, the decline in research and postgraduate study will continue," he warned. Dr Muhammad Uzair Khan, former president of the Peshawar University Teachers Association, painted an even grimmer picture. "UoP has struggled to pay salaries to its staff in recent months due to severe budget shortfalls. Financial constraints are crippling the institution. We can't even pay our employees on time. Moreover, the growing number of sub-campuses across the province is another contributing factor since many students now prefer to study at institutions closer to home, reducing the appeal of the main campus in Peshawar," said Dr Khan. Despite these challenges, Dr Khan emphasized the urgent need for the government to allocate special grants to save the university from further decline. "If immediate steps are not taken to promote higher education and invest in research, the situation will deteriorate beyond repair," he cautioned. Conversely, an official from UoP, speaking on the condition of anonymity, acknowledged that the proliferation of universities across districts, combined with high tuition fees and institutional neglect, might be pushing students away from the main campus.
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Groundbreaking of ‘Pakistan Digital Leap' held
ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Friday hosted the groundbreaking 'Pakistan Digital Leap' event, marking a major milestone in the country's journey towards digitalising its higher education sector. The event was graced by vice chancellors, members of the corporate sector, and prominent stakeholders of the higher education sector of Pakistan, who witnessed the unveiling of cutting-edge digital infrastructure leading to an all-inclusive ecosystem built with innovative technologies that will revolutionise the learning landscape for millions of students across the country. The event showcased the remarkable strategic IT initiatives that were managed through HEDP a flagship project of HEC in collaboration with the World Bank. This project has positively impacted the lives of six million students across Pakistan, leveraging innovative technologies that are pioneering in the country. The event itself was symbolic as the chairman HEC appeared as an holographic Avatar and hosted the event taking the title of becoming the first ever Hologram Host in the history of Pakistan. HEC's strategic IT initiatives includes Astrolabes data centers, As-Sadeem cloud computing solutions, Al-Meissa HPC, Maktab ERP-SLCS, Al-Fihri LMS, Jidar Network Security, and Smart Classroom. These initiatives will further enhance the digital infrastructure of Pakistan's higher education sector, providing students with access to world-class education and skills. The event featured a state-of-the-art digital infrastructure representation, showcasing HEC's achievements in establishing: 7000 Km of fibre connectivity, 20,000 Wi-Fi points in 96 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and several more IT based features in the HEIs across the country. The event marked a significant leap in Pakistan's higher education sector, paving the way for a more digitally empowered and educated society as the pilot project of digitising 25 HEIs across the country is performing well and creating a demand to implement HEC's IT initiatives in public HEIs across the country. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
20-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Capital schools to get high-speed internet
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication will provide high-speed internet and fibre-optic connectivity to 532 schools in Islamabad. According to an official from the Ministry, the government has declared early education in artificial intelligence (AI), computer science, and emerging technologies a national priority. This move is part of the Prime Minister's vision for a "Digital Nation Pakistan," focused on building a skilled and future-ready workforce. The official added that the government is also working to improve the quality of education, aiming to help school and college graduates become more employable. To support this, a high-level committee has been formed to review the current IT curriculum, emphasising job-oriented skills. Although education is provincial, the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the Ministry of Education, and the National Curriculum Council are jointly upgrading the national syllabus. As part of these reforms, the government is reviewing AI and IT curricula for students from grade 6 to 12. Over 100 model schools and colleges have already been equipped with smart classrooms, labs, and digital screens, the official said, adding that the government also plans to expand digital education to remote areas through EdTech and hybrid learning models.
Express Tribune
20-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Experts warn of crisis over HEC budget cuts
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is facing serious challenges due to significant budget cuts and reduced funding. Despite soaring inflation and rising operational costs, the annual budget allocation for the HEC has been limited to only Rs39.48 billion. Education experts have called for an increase in HEC's budget and urged the government to declare an "education emergency" to ensure access to higher education for every child. According to official documents, the government has allocated Rs39.48 billion under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for 140 ongoing and 12 new schemes. These include: The Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarship Programme for students from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, and other friendly countries; construction of the academic block at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University; development of the main campus of Bacha Khan University; upgradation of blocks at the University of Baltistan; establishment of sports academies; organisation of Youth Olympics and expansion of the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi. Additionally, Rs1 billion has been earmarked for the third phase of the Fulbright Scholarship Support Programme, while Rs2.3 billion has been set aside for the Overseas Scholarships Programme for MS/MPhil students. Another Rs3.67 billion has been allocated for the PhD scholarship programme under Phase I of the US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor. The Pak-Korea Nutrition Centre will receive Rs800 million. It is worth noting that in 2018, the HEC's development budget stood at Rs46.23 billion. Seven years later, despite sharp increases in inflation and operational costs, the budget for FY 202526 has been slashed to Rs39.48 billion. Educationists argue that to improve literacy, expand access to higher education, and drive socio-economic development, the government must declare an education emergency and increase the education budget.
