16TH MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Islamabad, — 16th Meeting of National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training was held under the Chairmanship of Dr. Azim Uddin Zahid Lakhvi at Committee Room of Higher Education Commission.
The Committee emphasized on the urgent need for the Ministry of Federal Education to ensure the provision of clean drinking water, proper sanitation facilities, construction of boundary walls, and immediate resolution of roof leakages in government schools and colleges. It further stressed the importance of upgrading the overall infrastructure, with special focus on institutions located in rural areas, to create a safe and conducive learning environment for students across various schools and colleges in Islamabad.
The Committee was apprised that the International Institute of Science, Arts and Technology (IISAT) has not undergone a zero visit and that its computer-related courses have not been accredited by the National Computing Education Accreditation Council (NCEAC). It was further noted that while the institution has been granted an NOC for only one computer program, it is currently offering ten such courses. Expressing concern over this non-compliance, the Committee recommended that necessary amendments be introduced in the HEC Ordinance to empower the Commission to impose penalties and fines on institutions found violating accreditation requirements.
The Committee emphasized that the Vice Chancellor of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST) must personally attend committee meeting to brief on the grievances of the faculty. It is observed that the Vice Chancellor is often on foreign visits when invited for committee meetings.
The Committee was briefed on the working of the Project Management Unit (PMU) and its ongoing initiatives. These projects include the provision of basic educational facilities in institutions of the Islamabad Capital Territory under the Federal Directorate of Education, as well as the establishment of Danish Schools in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Islamabad. In addition, the PMU is undertaking projects for the construction and upgradation of infrastructure in government schools and colleges across Islamabad.
The Committee was briefed on the sanctioned and existing strength of the National Book Foundation (NBF). During the discussion, a committee member observed that the process of rightsizing was, in fact, turning into wrong sizing, as there was a lack of clarity on which posts should not be abolished in certain institutions. It was highlighted that NBF is a self-sufficient organization and plays a vital role by publishing quality books at affordable prices.
The committee member stated that the government initially imposes a ban on the recruitment process, and once the posts remain vacant, they are abolished under the name of rightsizing. She further remarked that keeping sanctioned posts unfilled conveys the impression that these positions are unnecessary.
The meeting was attended by MNA’s including Dr. Azim-ud-Din Zahid Lakhvi, Anjum Aqeel Khan, Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, Zeb Jaffar, Farah Naz Akbar (Parliamentary Secretary), Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Mehtab Akbar Rashdi, Mussarat Rafique Mahesar, Abdul Aleem Khan, Sabheen Ghoury, Dawar Khan Kundi, Fiaz Hussain, Muhammad Aslam Ghumman, Wajiha Qamar (Minister of State). The meeting was also attended by Secretary and officials of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, officials of Higher Education Commission HEC and other officers concerned.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
