Senate body for qualitative change in education standard
By Bushra Rafique

ISLAMABAD—The Senate Standing Committee on Education, Science and Technology which met here today in the Parliament House with Senator Mrs. Razina Alam Khan in the Chair has underlined the need for improving the quality of education at all levels in the country. The Committee observed that no compromise should be made in bringing a qualitative change in the standard of education. The Committee made these observations during discussion on the role of HEC regarding accreditation of Medical Colleges and Engineering Universities.
The Chairman of the Higher Education Commission, Professor Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman gave a detailed briefing to the Committee. He said that HEC Ordinance empowers it to formulate policies, guiding principles and priorities for Higher Education Institutions, besides giving evaluation powers to it. The Commission, he said is authorized to set up national or regional evaluation Council or authorize any existing Council or similar body to carryout accreditation of institutions by giving them appropriate rating. He told the Committee that HEC, under this Ordinance, started coordinating with Pakistan Engineering Council for accreditation of engineering programmes offered in Engineering Universities/Colleges. Accordingly, the HEC has been associated in policy making for accreditation under the Pakistan Engineering Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2005. It was decided that the joint meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Health and Senate Committee on Education be convened wherein the representatives of PMDC and HEC be invited with a view to create consensus for determining the sphere of the two bodies regarding their roles and functions.
The Committee also discussed the recommendations regarding amendments in the criteria for the establishment of private universities prepared by the Sub-Committee and gave approval to the same after incorporating a couple of amendments in consultation with HEC. These recommendations will now be sent to the Government for appropriate action.
The meeting was also attended by Senators S. M. Zafar, Professor Muhammad Saeed Siddiqui, Mrs. Roshan Khursheed Bharucha, Dr. Muhammad Said, Maulvi Agha Muhammad and Professor Muhammad Ibrahim Khan. Chairman HEC, Secretary Education, Mr. Sajid Hassan, Executive Director HEC and senior officers of the HEC were also present.