The vice chancellors of over 130 public and private sector universities Tuesday demanded the government to release Rs 2.5 billion additional development grant to enable them in completing the ongoing projects and boost higher education.
Addressing a joint press conference, after the conclusion of 10th Vice Chancellors Committee meeting, Engineer Imtiaz Hussain Gilani chairman vice chancellors' committee said that the finance minister has assured for early release of additional Rs 4.60 billion for the third and the fourth quarters.
"We are glad and optimistic that he will ensure the early release (finance minister) of additional Rs 4.60 billion for the third and the fourth quarters. This will take care of 50 percent and 15 percent salary raise announced by the government in the last two years", he added.
Over 130 vice chancellors from public and private sector universities met on March 26-27, 2012 to discuss challenges facing the higher education. Referring to the ever shrinking budget for higher education, he said the committee has recommended that minimum investment in education sector should be 4 percent of the GDP. This is the only sustainable solution to the education system and the only road towards sustainable development of Pakistan.
VCs said Finance Minister Dr Hafeez Shaikh has lauded the HEC's performance and said that the government has supported HEC in difficult circumstances, and the financial commitments made to HEC, both on the recurring and development side will be honoured by the government.
The Vice Chancellors pledged to enhance the role of universities to serve as engine of socio-economic growth of Pakistan in support of national economic policies. He further said that the committee has come up with as theme that the higher education does not exist in isolation and is linked to the entire education sector. The Vice Chancellors believe that the universities should be leaders of "revolution" in education and address the root cause of our education problem, VCs added.
The committee further demanded that government at federal and provincial levels must advocate an "education" emergency in Pakistan and start forceful campaign for awareness. The Vice Chancellors believe that the first charge to the national budget should be "education" which must be sacrosanct.
They further said that aim of the gathering of university heads was that "We will educate this nation," adding that the higher education institutions are located across the country. "Now the higher education has taken root in Pakistan and universities are transforming communities. The Committee was a realistic forum for higher education policy formulation, they added.
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