Education is our top priority and the government is committed to improve the quality of college education at par with global standards. For this, we have introduced qualitative reforms in this sector.

This was said by the provincial minister for higher education Raja Yassir Humayun Sarfraz while presiding over a "Stakeholder Conference on Higher Education Reforms" on Wednesday, here at the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore.

The conference was organized by the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC). Chairman PHEC Prof Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid, Director Public Instruction (DPI) Colleges Jahangir Ahmad, vice-chancellors from as many as 26 public sector universities and principals from approximately 773 public sector colleges of Punjab attended the interactive conference aimed at garnering the constructive feedback on issues related to quality in higher education, effective management, coordination, and government policies on higher education.

Addressing the vice-chancellors and principals, the minister for higher education clarified the misconceptions being circulated the in social media or other public spheres, saying that colleges offering two-years degree programs across the province were being renamed as Community College, however, no structural or administrative changes being introduced, "No public sector college is being handed over to Board of Governors or getting privatized. Change in nomenclature will neither increase tuition fees nor will affect the placement of college teachers" the minister clarified.

The minister further said that public sector colleges offering 4-year degree programs will be renamed as graduate colleges whereas those offering two-year degrees as community colleges. He added at least two colleges - one boys and one girls - in each district will be classified as graduate colleges which will be affiliated with the relevant district or divisional university.