THIS is with reference to the article ‘Building the knowledge economy’ (Oct 19). As a retired college professor, I believe that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) should have only the barest min-imum role in the overall regulation of the higher education sector.

The commission should have no control at all over funding or syllabi beyond ensuring an equitable standard throughout the country, and it should certainly not be deciding matters relating to the day-to-day management and administr-ation of universities anywhere, neither in the centre nor in the provinces.

The federal government and the pro-vinces should seriously think about granting full autonomy to a few univer-sities, not more than 10, and only these universities should have full-fledged research funding and research-oriented setups. Such funding and support should be subject to annual performance reviews.

There should be district-level degree-awarding colleges affiliated with each such university, and they should limit themselves to degree courses at under-

graduate and graduate levels. There should be no doctoral programmes or teaching requirements at these colleges. Vocational and professional training institutes should also be attached to the universities and colleges at district and tehsil levels.

And, of course, the focus must be on primary and secondary education at the grassroots level for all children up to mat-riculation. This should be of the broadest possible scope.

Educational institutions in the private sector — universities, colleges and schools — should also be strictly regulated and monitored at both federal and provincial levels, with the aim of discouraging the unfortunate ‘education for sale’ trend. In time, each province should become completely self-reliant in terms of prov-iding education at all levels, including professional and research training.

In building up a knowledge-based eco-nomy from the grassroots upwards, there should be the same standards and qualifications throughout the country. And, this aspect should be regulated and organised by what is presently the HEC.

It is also advisable to minimise the role of organisations associated with the armed forces in matters pertaining to public education. These organisations should be involved only in limited defence-related training and education, like they once used to be.

Ultimately, the whole messed up educ-ational system in the country can be rationalised and effectively organised and funded by central and provincial gover-nments. They can also involve industries as well as other stakeholders in evolving a feasible and more suitable system.

Omer S.K. Nizami
Qalandarabad, KP

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2024