ISLAMABAD: A critical directive has been issued for unregistered universities to establish grievance desks to handle attestation queries effectively, as decided during a meeting chaired by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt of the Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training.
Held at the Old PiPs Hall, Parliament Lodges, the meeting included Senators Irfan-Ul-Haq Siddiqui, Falaz Naz, Fawzia Arshad, Ashraf Ali Jatoi, Syed Masroor Ahsan, Kamran Murtaza, and Khalida Ateeb. Senior representatives from relevant departments were also in attendance.
Discussions covered a range of pressing issues, notably the challenges faced by unregistered universities and the attestation of degrees. The committee explored a robust mechanism to prevent the issuance of fraudulent degrees, an ongoing concern addressed in previous sessions with the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
To ensure the authenticity of academic credentials, a comprehensive checklist for universities was proposed, which includes detailed verification of student fees, admission forms, transcripts, and requisite approvals from the Board of Governors. Universities will need to provide an affidavit to guarantee the accuracy of the information provided.
In addition to attestation issues, the committee revisited the October 27, 2023 notification regarding the reinstatement of 137 lecturers by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training. It was reported that although salaries for 87 employees had been released by the AGPR, the remaining were withheld due to court restrictions. The absence of an AGPR representative prompted the chairperson to demand a written explanation for the non-release of salaries and their absence at the meeting.
Furthermore, the committee reviewed Punjab University’s revised policies for affiliating universities, which include stipulations for granting affiliations, and the monitoring and evaluation of affiliated colleges. Any amendments to this policy were discussed with an emphasis on maintaining transparency and avoiding conflicts of interest to ensure that educational institutions operate effectively.
