LAHORE: The Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) has decided to initiate action against illegal sub-campuses of private sector degree awarding institutions (DAIs) in the province.

The decision was taken at the PHEC`s 7th meeting held here on Thursday. Matters of affiliations and franchises of private sector DAIs in Punjab were also discussed in it which was presided over by PHEC Chairman Prof Dr Mohammad Nizamuddin.

`The PHEC after detailed deliberations decided unlawful sub-campus of any private sector DAI will not be allowed to operate. The DAIs cannot open a sub-campus without following the laid-down procedure. In order to ensure quality, special committees will be constituted for the evaluation of performance and quality assurance of existing sub-campuses of private sector institutions,` a PHEC spokesman said after the meeting.

He said no private degree awarding institution would be allowed to offer its franchise, affiliation or study centre. `DAIs will be directed to annul all such affiliations and franchises and stop current admissions immediately,` it said.

The PHEC also decided to con-stitute an `Assessment Committee` for the evaluation of M.Phil/PhD programmes being offered by private sector DAIs to ensure quality and standardisation of education in the province and strengthening the monitoring and evaluation programme of all DAIs.

The PHEC also took note of newly established sub-campus of University of South Asia in Gujrat `without approval from chancellor/governor`. The commission directed the university to immediately close its sub-campus in Gujrat.

Poor control of the government on illegalities in the functioning ofsub-campuses of the public and private sector varsities in the country, especially in Punjab, has put at stake the future of thousands of students.

A number of students of Bahauddin Zakarya University`s Lahore sub-campus are on the roads as it was opened without BZU syndicate and Higher Education Commission approval.

Interestingly, Sargodha University has asked students not to take admission in its three subcampuses Faisalabad, Mandi Bahauddin and Gujranwala as they have initiated the process (of admission) without the approval of the main campus.