SHC orders universities to end 14-year degree programmes

[ghazi52]

SHC orders universities to end 14-year degree programmes

Ishaq Tanoli
September 25, 2021

A view of the Sindh High Court building. — Dawn/File


KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has expressed resentment towards public-sector universities of the province for not withdrawing the 14-year associate bachelor’s degree programs despite a court order and directed them to discontinue it.

A single-judge bench headed by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar said that apart from Karachi University, other public-sector universities had not honoured the earlier order of the SHC regarding 16-year education programme based on the Higher Education Commission recommendation as the order was aimed at making such degrees acceptable at the national and international levels.

When the bench took up the matter for hearing, the secretary of board and universities as well as KU registrar filed reports. The bench said that the other universities were in complete defiance of its earlier order to close 14-year associate degree programs.

“Accordingly, all public universities shall publish disclaimer that associate degree is not equivalent to BSc, B.Com and B.A (16 years). Hence, they shall not enroll/admit from 2022 and discontinue associate bachelor degree programs”, the bench in its order said.

At this juncture, the secretary of colleges said that they would ask universities to order 60 colleges to impart 16 years based degree programs as they have all requirements and facilities of different subjects.

Thus, the bench directed the board and universities secretary to ensure temporary affiliation within 15 days by the universities while regional directors and secretary of colleges must take all efforts to make it practical.

The secretary schools submitted that in the light of earlier order of the bench, the compulsory education council had been notified.

Referring to its earlier order about suspension of affiliation fees imposed by the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi, the bench explained that the order was applicable to all boards of higher secondary schools and directed the secretary of boards to ensure the implementation of the order.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2021

 

[ghazi52]

Earlier

Sindh rejects HEC’s four-year graduation policy

KARACHI: Adviser Universities and Boards Nisar Ahmed Khuhro at a presser held on Wednesday in the Sindh Assembly committee room announced that the province would continue with the two-year graduation degree programmes, describing the four-year graduation policy of the federal Higher Education Commission (HEC) as an “attack” on provincial autonomy.

“The process of abolishing the two-year degree programmes is an attack on provincial sovereignty. Sindh rejects these federal HEC policies and universities in Sindh will continue with the two-year programme under the Universities Act,” he said.

Mr Khuhro noted that the historic 18th Amendment to the Constitution was never accepted by the people opposing provincial autonomy from day one. The education sector in Pakistan, he said, now came under the provincial jurisdiction after the 18th Amendment on the basis of which the Sindh Higher Education Commission had been established.

“The Sindh Assembly had passed the Sindh Universities Amendment Act in 2018 which accorded autonomy to universities so they could function according to their statues.”

Criticising the federal HEC, Mr Khuhro said the commission was not only violating provincial autonomy, but also the autonomy of universities by interfering in their matters.

He was of the opinion that the recent HEC initiatives, including its associate degree programme and PhD programme, would deprive the middle and lower-middle classes of their right to education.

Referring to the HEC’s policy, he said it would close down two-year bachelor’s programme in arts, commerce, two-year master’s programme and the opportunity to have private graduation.

“We reject all these policies of the federal HEC and all universities of Sindh will continue all their programmes under the autonomy given in the Universities Act.”

He further said the Sindh government would not allow the federal HEC to verify the certificates and degrees issued by Sindh educational institutions and only Sindh’s institutions would verify the degrees and certificates.

“The Sindh government will also take up this issue in the Council of Common Interests. We want to make it clear that the Sindh government will not compromise on the 18th Amendment.”

He said after the abolition of the Concurrent List, the federal government could have only four departments while the rest needed to be transferred to provinces.

“But, the federal government is not ready to accept provincial autonomy. It’s unable to understand that if provinces are strong the country will be strong.”

Mr Khuhro said the establishment of a federal HEC was also against provincial autonomy.

“A conspiracy is being hatched to control the universities of the provinces by setting up a federal HEC. We will not allow the federation to control the sovereignty of provinces.”

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2021

 

[HRK]

provincial sovereignty

wow a new political term

describing the four-year graduation policy of the federal Higher Education Commission (HEC) as an “attack” on provincial autonomy.

height of delusion, hatred and ignorance

 

[baqai]

I will share my own example:

i have a degree from Staffordshire University UK (Bsc Hons In Computing) W.E.S (World Education Services - www.wes.org ) attested and recognizes that degree as 4 Years Bachelors and my degree is attested for Canadian Immigration, however the very same degree is NOT recognized by HEC so i cannot present it at IBA as PROOF that i have done my bachelors and i guess i am just inter pass as far as our educational system is concerned.

My wife just yesterday (MashaAllah) completed her MDS (Masters In Dental Sciences) which is a 4 years program, however as per now her degree as AS GOOD as MSc 2 years program. There is something SERIOUSLY fucked up with our educational system

tell me where should i go and who to hit? lol

 

[Ali_Baba]

This decision is the most restarted decision that Pakistani provinces have made recently and will kill the Goverment initiative to bring IT outsourcing to Pakistan as the Pakistani education system is still recognised as a mess.

The Pakistan goverment has to fight this fight and highlight why it is important that Pakistani BSc degree meet international standards.

If the degrees that Pakistan produces are not equivalent to internatiional standards then they cannot be trusted and this will reduce inward investment into Pakistan. The Pakistani degree system is such a massive mess.

I recently had a CV of a Pakistani born IT professional that i wanted to interview and i was told by HR that i was not allowed to pursue that candidate directly as a 2 year BSc does not meet the minimum criteria for the role or the organisation. This was in the UK and my HR knew enough to say - no ....

 

[Sulman Badshah]

good decision

Foreigner countries don't accept our 2 years program

 

[ColonelSanders]

good decision

Foreigner countries don't accept our 2 years program

I remember something similar happening with the private universities a few years ago. NCCS (now University of South Asia i think) had a BCS program that they were charging the students full fees for and then slipped some info about students being required to do BA exam from Punjab University to be qualified as a graduate.
They never made it clear to the student as it would have raised the questions that if the student were going to do Punjab University exams and get an unrelated degree from Punjab University, what exactly were they paying NCCS for.

There was a long running case where some students hired a lawyer and filed a case against the institute. But it didnt get anywhere since NCCS was blaming HEC and HEC was blaming NCCS. All those students wasted money and time and still didnt get a proper degree. At a later stage University asked the students to come a study for a year or so they could issue them a REAL DEGREE knowing that no one is going to abandon their lives in other countries and come back to study.
Then they asked students to pay a fee as the university was in negotiations with HEC to get them degrees. But It was just a scheme to get some free short term funds from vulnerable people. What a complete mess and no one gave a sh*t that such a scam was being played by an institute.

 

[ghazi52]

Every Pakistan loves to play politics , nobody cares about the country.

 

[Mr.Cringeworth]

I will share my own example:

i have a degree from Staffordshire University UK (Bsc Hons In Computing) W.E.S (World Education Services - www.wes.org ) attested and recognizes that degree as 4 Years Bachelors and my degree is attested for Canadian Immigration, however the very same degree is NOT recognized by HEC so i cannot present it at IBA as PROOF that i have done my bachelors and i guess i am just inter pass as far as our educational system is concerned.

My wife just yesterday (MashaAllah) completed her MDS (Masters In Dental Sciences) which is a 4 years program, however as per now her degree as AS GOOD as MSc 2 years program. There is something SERIOUSLY fucked up with our educational system

tell me where should i go and who to hit? lol

How can we be sure even if a pakistani 4 years bachelor degree is recognized internationally is there a way?

 

[Kraetoz]

How can we be sure even if a pakistani 4 years bachelor degree is recognized internationally is there a way?

You just have to see if the institute from which you graduated is recognised by HEC then your degree would be recognized internationally.

Most countries would ask you to get your degree attested by HEC. That is it, once you get that attestation your degree would be recognized internationally.

There are few scenarios in which your bachelors degree is not recognised internationally.

The institute from which you graduated is not recognised by HEC.
If some foreign country does not recognise HEC.
or if you are applying for Masters and the foreign university have their own policy of partially recognizing your degree and have you take basic/fresher bachelor courses for an year or two and then enroll you for masters.

 

[Mr.Cringeworth]

You just have to see if the institute from which you graduated is recognised by HEC then your degree would be recognized internationally.

Most countries would ask you to get your degree attested by HEC. That is it, once you get that attestation your degree would be recognized internationally.

There are few scenarios in which your bachelors degree is not recognised internationally.

The institute from which you graduated is not recognised by HEC.
If some foreign country does not recognise HEC.
or if you are applying for Masters and the foreign university have their own policy of partially recognizing your degree and have you take basic/fresher bachelor courses for an year or two and then enroll you for masters.

Is Hec recognized by most countries?

 

[khansaheeb]

SHC orders universities to end 14-year degree programmes

Ishaq Tanoli
September 25, 2021

A view of the Sindh High Court building. — Dawn/File


KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has expressed resentment towards public-sector universities of the province for not withdrawing the 14-year associate bachelor’s degree programs despite a court order and directed them to discontinue it.

A single-judge bench headed by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar said that apart from Karachi University, other public-sector universities had not honoured the earlier order of the SHC regarding 16-year education programme based on the Higher Education Commission recommendation as the order was aimed at making such degrees acceptable at the national and international levels.

When the bench took up the matter for hearing, the secretary of board and universities as well as KU registrar filed reports. The bench said that the other universities were in complete defiance of its earlier order to close 14-year associate degree programs.

“Accordingly, all public universities shall publish disclaimer that associate degree is not equivalent to BSc, B.Com and B.A (16 years). Hence, they shall not enroll/admit from 2022 and discontinue associate bachelor degree programs”, the bench in its order said.

At this juncture, the secretary of colleges said that they would ask universities to order 60 colleges to impart 16 years based degree programs as they have all requirements and facilities of different subjects.

Thus, the bench directed the board and universities secretary to ensure temporary affiliation within 15 days by the universities while regional directors and secretary of colleges must take all efforts to make it practical.

The secretary schools submitted that in the light of earlier order of the bench, the compulsory education council had been notified.

Referring to its earlier order about suspension of affiliation fees imposed by the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi, the bench explained that the order was applicable to all boards of higher secondary schools and directed the secretary of boards to ensure the implementation of the order.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2021

Bit confusing, is the order against 14 year olds from taking on degree courses, 14 year long degree courses or courses that have been running for 14 years?

 

[baqai]

How can we be sure even if a pakistani 4 years bachelor degree is recognized internationally is there a way?

you need to get it accredited / get equivalency, depending on the country you can find out which accreditation they accept like in case for me Canada accepts WES.

 

[Falconless]

Is Hec recognized by most countries?

In the commonwealth yes.