By Ali Imran
ISLAMABAD: Member National Assembly Mehnaz Akbar Aziz chaired the first meeting of the sub-committee of the Standing Committee on The National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education, Professional Training, National Heritage and Culture held under the supervision of Higher Education Commission (HEC) at the New Campus of the International Islamic University (IIUI) on Tuesday.
The meeting was attended by Rector IIUI Dr. Masoom Yasinzai, President IIU Dr. Hathal Homoud Alotaibi and Vice Chancellors of more than 30 universities from all over the country.
Issues relating to improving the quality of education, issues being faced by the universities, the linkage between industry and education, role of Higher Education Commission and policy making for the betterment of the education sector came under discussion during the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Mehnaz Akbar Aziz said that the solution of the problems of the education sector is the top priority of the committee.
She said that the society was facing problems like unemployment and lack of quality education. She furthered that Vice Chancellors have a key role to play in the promotion of higher education and Higher Education Commission can also play its pivotal role in this regard.
The MNA said that modern challenges can be overcome only by raising the standard of education.
She opined that a separate meeting would be held to hear the problems of private and medical universities.
She vowed that the
report of this meeting would be prepared on a priority basis with full
transparency and all the problems, suggestions and proposed solutions will
be included in this report that shall be presented in the parliament and it
shall be submitted to the Premier as well.
Ms. Mehnaz Akbar Aziz said that the committee will ensure positive role of
the commission in improvement of the quality of education in addition to
solution of the financial issues of the universities.
Participant Vice Chancellors briefed the NA body on financial issues. They
suggested that a national policy on open distance learning be formulated in
the country. The heads of the universities said that there was an ultimate
need of linkage between industry and academia.
The meeting agreed that universities should find ways to make the most of
their resources with initiatives such as monetization of lands. On this
occasion, the heads of public sector and private universities also briefed
the committee on the issues of funding and adoption of graduate policy of
higher education.
Later, the convener of the committee Ms. Mehnaz Akbar Aziz met the teachers
of different universities at the male campus of IIUI. The MNA and her team
listened to the problems faced by the faculty and also collected suggestions
for improvements in this regard. Matters such as quality research,
plagiarism policy and faculty development were discussed in the meeting with
the faculty members. During the meeting, teachers were heard on a number of
issues including setting up day care centers for female teachers.
On this occasion, the committee also met the student representatives of
universities from all over the country at the female campus. On the
occasion, Ms. Mehnaz Akbar Aziz vowed that she would not leave any stone
unturned to ensure quality education to the youth. She said youth is a ray
of hope and added that the committee will ensure its productive role to
facilitate the students. It is pertinent to mention here that the committee
shall hold its coming meetings in the provinces respectively.
