Islamabad: Vice Chancellors and Rectors of public sector universities say that they face a financial emergency because of budget cuts in the past three years.
In a two-day huddle at the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the university heads met to explore solutions to the financial crisis.
Dr. Masoom Yasinzai, Chairman Vice Chancellors Committee said that the recurring budget of the higher education sector is facing a shortfall of Rs. 26.9 billion in the current financial year. He expressed the hope that the current Government, a known supporter of the education sector, would help universities come out of the crisis.
Since the last three years, funding for universities has failed to keep up with growing enrollments. The crisis has been exacerbated because of legislated pay and pension increases and demands from newly established universities. The quality of education has suffered as a result, and universities are finding it impossible to meet pay and pension obligations. The Vice Chancellors expressed their hope that government will restore university funding for the current fiscal year and ensure that the projected requirement of Rs. 103.55 billion for the coming year (2019-20) is satisfied. They also asked the government to ensure adequate funding for the development budget of universities.
Addressing the university heads, Dr. Tariq Banuri, Chairman HEC, assured them that he will present their concerns to the highest levels of federal as well as provincial governments.