Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training, led by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, convened at Parliament Lodges to address critical issues in higher education, focusing on student attestation, equivalency challenges, and the prevention of fraudulent degrees.
According to Senate of Pakistan, Senator Butt emphasized the importance of resolving the attestation and equivalency issues promptly, advocating for an education system free of political interference. The committee has scheduled a session at the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to discuss a systematic approach to these issues, including a new initiative to provide detailed guidelines on the HEC website for necessary documentation.
The meeting highlighted the pressing issue of fraudulent degrees, with Senator Butt urging the HEC to enhance its oversight and public awareness efforts. She called for accountability measures against universities issuing fraudulent degrees, suggesting that such institutions be banned and affected students be compensated. The committee resolved to test future admissions from these universities and ensure they provide financial redress to their students.
The discussions also touched upon ongoing legal challenges involving New Port Institute of Communication and Economics Karachi, South Asia University Lahore, and Preston Institute of Management Science and Technology. The HEC briefed the committee on forming a special committee to address these administrative and student challenges, including proposals for an in-camera meeting to present evidence of fraudulence.
Moreover, the committee welcomed new members and ratified Senator Butt’s membership at the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design Lahore. It also passed the “WAPDA University Islamabad Bill, 2024,” highlighting a collaborative effort to bolster educational standards.
Attended by key senators and the Chairman of the HEC, the meeting underscored a collective commitment to improving the integrity and effectiveness of Pakistan’s higher education system.