Amid uproar across the country over devolution of the Education Ministry to the provinces and apprehensions about the future of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Wednesday contradicted media reports that the agency had withheld $250 million earmarked for HEC.
The US Embassy issued a statement to rectify the record rejecting media reports over the subject. "These reports are inaccurate. USAID has not put any funding for the HEC on hold, nor does it have any plans to do so at this time," the statement said.
The United States through USAID already has provided all of its planned funding to the HEC for 2010, which amounted to $45 million. Funding for any future USAID programmes will be determined later this year, when the US Congress approves funding for 2011, the statement added.
The statement further said that the USAID has been working closely with the HEC to strengthen the capacity of Pakistani universities. This collaboration aims to assist Pakistan in developing a cadre of world-class experts (especially in science and technology) who can play an active role in Pakistan's economic and social development. In addition, USAID provides merit-and-need-based scholarships through the HEC for in-country higher education. Separately, USAID provides $20 million a year to support the world's largest Fulbright scholarship programme. The Science and Technology partnership with Pakistan is implemented through the HEC.
The government has devolved the Education Ministry to the provinces under the 18th Constitutional Amendment. However, after the announcement many have censured the decision. Earlier, Javed Laghari had reportedly revelled to the media that a representative of the USAID held a meeting with him and apprised about the decision of upholding $250 million aid to the HEC. Meanwhile, some media reports also suggested that the World Bank has also hinted at putting on hold a $300 million loan to HEC for higher education of Pakistani students over the uncertainty of latter's future after government's decision to transfer commission.