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HEC issues another letter against illegal campuses

By Kashif Abbasi 2015-05-14
ISLAMABAD: Instead of taking action itself, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has once again asked public and private universities to stop running illegal campuses.

A similar directive issued by the HEC a few months back had threatened `strict action` if they did not close down the illegal campuses.

Yet, no action, strict or significant, has followed except that the latest directive, issued last week, which gives their heads one more month to furnish details of campuses opened without obtaining `No Objection Certificate`.

Currently 185 degree-awarding institutions universities and colleges affiliated with foreign universities are functioning in the country. Many of them have sub-campuses too.

HEC`s latest warning observes that `many universities are indulging in academic via their sub-campusesdirectly or through franchises under public-private partnership without obtaining NOC from HEC.

In addition, advertisements of some exhibit the label of `HEC Recognized Degrees` intended to deceive the public (parents and student) and which creates a negative image of this Commission.

Some franchises are commercializing education with the potential danger of imparting inferior quality of education, according to the HEC. It reminded the universities that educational excellence necessitates assurance of quality standards. `Hence the universities should get NOC prior to initiating any academic programme activity or opening new campus,` the directive said.

Speaking to Dawn, a senior official of HEC said that the commission has complete data of illegal campuses in the country, but alleged that `disinclination of higher authorities` restricts the commission from taking action.

`Most of our efforts to close down the campuses are confined to the issuance of letters, and we are issuing these letters,` he said, suggesting `visible action` against all the universities which gave affiliation to substandard institutions.

Prof Dr Mansoor Kundi, Executive Director, HEC, agreed that it is a serious issue.

`But we are also serious to take action against illegal campuses. We have written to heads of all public and private universities, and if they do not apply for NOC, we definitely will take action against them,` he said.

When pointed out that such communications have not worked, he said `We can`t shut down the illegal campuses forcibly. We are doing whatever we can do. If the universities don`t seek the NOC, we will involve other stakeholders such as the provinces to close down the illegal campuses.