HEC faced with financial constraints

ISLAMABAD - The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is faced with financial constraints since the commencing of the new fiscal year. The present government has stopped development funds of universities’ proposed projects.
Earlier, the Ministry of Finance pledged Rs 18 billion for ongoing development projects for their execution, which were 300 in numbers. Despite that first quarter has passed away but its funds of the Rs 2.6 billion, which are 15 percent of the total, could not be released to the HEC.
When contacted Director Planning and Development HEC, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad told TheNation that funds for developmental projects were not released to the HEC. However, he was optimistic about the government response in this regard, adding that, as education was most integral part of a society.
He revealed that fourth quarter of recurring funds was also not released to the HEC and in first quarter of financial year only 20 percent was released which did not meet the requirements of the Commission.
He noted that no increase in the recurrence funds to impose cut on development projects meant to reduce the education budget, which has multiplied the miseries of HEC. He observed that every year 15 percent enrolment increase but funds are not increases accordingly, while adding the government allocations over the students in public sectors universities have been decreased simultaneously since 2004.
He mentioned that in the previous meeting of the VCs of the universities across the country scarce of funds was considered a serious matter. It was discussed in detailed that how it would be possible to meet with increasing expanses and the requirements of these higher education institutes. He mentioned that increase in the fee schedule might be tabled but problem would be increased for the poor students, who had already been facing financial constraints.