RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Punjab Higher Education Minister Syed Raza Ali Gillani on Tuesday constituted a five-member committee to resolve an issue of promotion of teachers immediately and it will submit its report in one week.

During a meeting held here to review the performance evaluation of the Punjab University, the Minister constitute another three-member committee and assigned its members to give practical suggestions to improve the university’s ranking and resolving other pending issues. This committee is required to submit its report in two weeks time.

Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zakriya Zakir, Registrar Dr Khalid Khan, All Deans, Directors, Hostel Wardens and representatives from HED were also there in the meeting.

On the occasion, the Minister assured the committees that their recommendations will be implemented in letter and spirit. He directed the University administration to adjust the ratio of teachers and students at 1 to 30 as per the international standards. He further directed the Vice Chancellor to fill all the budgeted seats as soon as possible by following all the legal requirements and merit.

According to him, the University teachers should play their role in promoting a culture of modern research in students. The Punjab Higher Education Commission should establish a teacher training academy.

After the meeting, while talking to the media, he admitted that university-related issues are not resolved for some time and hence he is himself coming to the University to resolve them. The government is focused to enhance the University’s QS ranking.

“We are working on a one point agenda, to increase the country’s higher education standards. Our goal is to bring five government universities, including Punjab University, in the top international rankings in the first phase,” he added.

The Minister said that there was no room for miscreants in the University. He directed that the decisions of disciplinary committee to be followed in letter and spirit. “The violation of the discipline will not be tolerated at any cost. We are resolving the issues on priority basis so that its ranking improves. We are also working on a project to set up universities in all 36 districts across Punjab,” he added.

He said that universities in Punjab must pay attention to research and postgraduate courses. He advised the students to focus on their education because they are country’s future.