Reform of Universities in Pakistan
By: Dr. Sohail Mahmood
A country cannot develop without reasonably educated and trained human resources. Good universities are required for the education and training of the any country’s youth. Generally, Pakistani universities are in bad shape. There are serious structural problems that need to be resolved. The country needs to revamp higher education sector on an urgent basis. Progress and development of Pakistan is not possible otherwise.
Firstly, the sector’s paucity of funding must be taken care of immediately. The government must allocate 4% of GNP to the education sector in the next budget. Previous promises have not been kept which is most unfortunate for the country. This must now change. Allocations being made to the defense section may be cut accordingly. Pakistan must develop its human resources on a priority basis. Pakistan has done wonders in developing a strong military. The people are justifiably proud of its military muscle. Let us now develop our higher education also. Excellence in university education should be the new mission of the government. We must set our priorities right. Reform should be urgently undertaken now. The first requirement is to put the money on the table. Without money reform is not possible.
Secondly, the universities must have a greater deal of autonomy to run their affairs. There is a hotch potch of various models that are being applied. All universities in Pakistan, both state and private, must conform to one basic model. This is a requirement of greater transparency, accountability and effectiveness. Structures need be reformed immediately to create excellence in our universities. A powerful Board of Governors should be involved in the actual supervision of university affairs. This board must have ex-officio representation from the federal ministry of education at the level of a federal secretary. Renowned educationists should be placed on the board by the president of Pakistan. These nominations may come from the federal education advisor and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) There is no need of placing politicians on these boards. Pakistani universities have been unduly politicized and this trend needs to be checked. No further politicization should be allowed in our universities. These governing boards must allocate all sums for the running of the departments, centers and institutes of the universities. These allocations need to be done on a two-year basis instead of the current one-year. The members of the board need to be more involved in the affairs of the universities on an individual basis. A board meeting held once a year is not enough to get them effectively involved. The board may meet twice a year to supervise university affairs more effectively. The boards may establish various committees for effective control. For example, a curriculum reform committee may be institutionalized by the board to meet frequently for the said purpose. The point is to have an effective control body over and above the university administration itself. These boards must be independent to take all decisions pertaining to university affairs. The present prerogative of the President of Pakistan to appoint university heads must be handed over to these governing boards. Good practices may be adopted from outside Pakistan to reform our university systems.
Thirdly, our universities need permanent sources of funds available to them to allocate for development purposes. Endowments are to be established for the said purpose.
Fourthly, a new thrust should be focused on faculty development. This area has been badly neglected so far. Motivated and knowledgeable teachers are a must for quality education. Therefore, good teachers training programs are urgently needed.
Fifthly, the status of the teaching profession must be increased in our society. The teachers need to be compensated adequately. They deserve far more then what is being doled out to them now. The HEC’s tenure-track system needs to be rationalized further. The requirements for research in the pure sciences are not fully applicable to the social sciences. Every discipline has its own requirements of what constitutes good research. One size fits all does not make sense.
Sixthly, universities must be provided with better facilities. Libraries are deficient in quality books and journals are unavailable. How can faculty conduct research without good libraries? The university administrations need to revamp libraries on an urgent basis.
We have lost enough time already and need to change the status quo immediately. Enough time has been list already. Pakistan has been left for behind in providing quality university education. Unless and until the government prioritizes higher education, the development of Pakistan will remain a pipe dream. Therefore, urgent reforms are needed immediately.
A country cannot develop without reasonably educated and trained human resources. Good universities are required for the education and training of the any country’s youth. Generally, Pakistani universities are in bad shape. There are serious structural problems that need to be resolved. The country needs to revamp higher education sector on an urgent basis. Progress and development of Pakistan is not possible otherwise.
Firstly, the sector’s paucity of funding must be taken care of immediately. The government must allocate 4% of GNP to the education sector in the next budget. Previous promises have not been kept which is most unfortunate for the country. This must now change. Allocations being made to the defense section may be cut accordingly. Pakistan must develop its human resources on a priority basis. Pakistan has done wonders in developing a strong military. The people are justifiably proud of its military muscle. Let us now develop our higher education also. Excellence in university education should be the new mission of the government. We must set our priorities right. Reform should be urgently undertaken now. The first requirement is to put the money on the table. Without money reform is not possible.
Secondly, the universities must have a greater deal of autonomy to run their affairs. There is a hotch potch of various models that are being applied. All universities in Pakistan, both state and private, must conform to one basic model. This is a requirement of greater transparency, accountability and effectiveness. Structures need be reformed immediately to create excellence in our universities. A powerful Board of Governors should be involved in the actual supervision of university affairs. This board must have ex-officio representation from the federal ministry of education at the level of a federal secretary. Renowned educationists should be placed on the board by the president of Pakistan. These nominations may come from the federal education advisor and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) There is no need of placing politicians on these boards. Pakistani universities have been unduly politicized and this trend needs to be checked. No further politicization should be allowed in our universities. These governing boards must allocate all sums for the running of the departments, centers and institutes of the universities. These allocations need to be done on a two-year basis instead of the current one-year. The members of the board need to be more involved in the affairs of the universities on an individual basis. A board meeting held once a year is not enough to get them effectively involved. The board may meet twice a year to supervise university affairs more effectively. The boards may establish various committees for effective control. For example, a curriculum reform committee may be institutionalized by the board to meet frequently for the said purpose. The point is to have an effective control body over and above the university administration itself. These boards must be independent to take all decisions pertaining to university affairs. The present prerogative of the President of Pakistan to appoint university heads must be handed over to these governing boards. Good practices may be adopted from outside Pakistan to reform our university systems.
Thirdly, our universities need permanent sources of funds available to them to allocate for development purposes. Endowments are to be established for the said purpose.
Fourthly, a new thrust should be focused on faculty development. This area has been badly neglected so far. Motivated and knowledgeable teachers are a must for quality education. Therefore, good teachers training programs are urgently needed.
Fifthly, the status of the teaching profession must be increased in our society. The teachers need to be compensated adequately. They deserve far more then what is being doled out to them now. The HEC’s tenure-track system needs to be rationalized further. The requirements for research in the pure sciences are not fully applicable to the social sciences. Every discipline has its own requirements of what constitutes good research. One size fits all does not make sense.
Sixthly, universities must be provided with better facilities. Libraries are deficient in quality books and journals are unavailable. How can faculty conduct research without good libraries? The university administrations need to revamp libraries on an urgent basis.
We have lost enough time already and need to change the status quo immediately. Enough time has been list already. Pakistan has been left for behind in providing quality university education. Unless and until the government prioritizes higher education, the development of Pakistan will remain a pipe dream. Therefore, urgent reforms are needed immediately.