ISLAMABAD, Sep 19 (APP):Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Establishment Senator Ahad Cheema, here on Saturday, called for a comprehensive mechanism to address the issue of unaccredited IT institutions, protect students from enrolling in unrecognized programmes and ensure that IT graduates possess internationally competitive skills. Chairing a high-level meeting to review the IT Skills Assessment Test and the accreditation framework for computing education, the Minister directed the Ministry of Information …
Govt to move to strengthen IT Education Standards
ISLAMABAD, Sep 19 (APP):Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Establishment Senator Ahad Cheema, here on Saturday, called for a comprehensive mechanism to address the issue of unaccredited IT institutions, protect students from enrolling in unrecognized programmes and ensure that IT graduates possess internationally competitive skills.
Chairing a high-level meeting to review the IT Skills Assessment Test and the accreditation framework for computing education, the Minister directed the Ministry of Information Technology to ascertain the number of graduates from unaccredited institutions and examine the extent of the problem.
He emphasized the need for coordinated measures to prevent admissions to institutions and programmes lacking the required accreditation.
The Minister directed the concerned authorities to develop a mechanism for identifying unaccredited institutions and ensuring that prospective students have access to reliable information about the accreditation status of universities, affiliated colleges and individual programmes before seeking admission.
Reviewing the IT Skills Assessment Test, in which more than 33,000 students from 188 institutions participated, Senator Ahad Cheema called for aligning the assessment framework with international standards and the evolving requirements of the technology industry.
He emphasized that the credibility of the assessment process must be ensured through appropriate scrutiny, quality assurance and institutional checks and balances.
The Minister directed that a comprehensive report be prepared on the performance of participating institutions, including an analysis of competency test results to identify institutions requiring corrective measures.
He also called for examining discrepancies between academic qualifications and practical competencies, particularly in cases where students successfully complete degree requirements but fail the skills assessment, or pass the assessment despite not completing their degrees.
Such cases, he observed, require a thorough examination of academic standards, assessment methodologies and the alignment of university curricula with industry requirements.
He also stressed the need for stronger industry-academia collaboration to ensure that IT education translates into employable skills and meaningful job opportunities.
He directed the concerned authorities to engage the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) and other industry stakeholders to align competency assessments, professional certifications and academic programmes with the actual requirements of the IT sector.
The meeting also discussed the proposed introduction of mandatory competency assessments at different stages of academic programmes. The Minister directed that the implications of the proposal, particularly for students and educational institutions, be carefully examined before any decision is finalized.
Reviewing the existing accreditation framework, the Minister called for enhanced coordination among the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the National Computing Education Accreditation Council (NCEAC), the Ministry of Information Technology and relevant federal and provincial authorities.
He directed that provincial higher education authorities be brought on board and relevant education secretaries be engaged to develop a coordinated approach to institutional accreditation and quality assurance.
The Minister also emphasized the need to strengthen public awareness regarding accredited and non-accredited institutions. He called for an assessment of existing awareness initiatives, including their reach and engagement on social media, to determine whether prospective students are receiving the necessary information.
The meeting reviewed the participation and performance of various institutions, including Virtual University, and discussed the need for closer scrutiny of assessment results and institutional performance.
Senator Ahad Cheema directed that institutions be provided with a structured mechanism to identify weaknesses in their academic programmes and undertake necessary improvements.
He emphasized that the objective of the initiative must be to establish a credible, transparent and industry-responsive skills assessment framework that improves the quality of IT education, safeguards students’ interests and enhances the employability of Pakistani graduates.
The Minister directed the concerned authorities to submit a comprehensive follow-up report covering accreditation issues, institutional performance, assessment quality, student awareness and proposed corrective measures.
The meeting was attended by Chairman HEC Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Federal Secretary for Education Nadeem Mahbub, representatives of the Ministry of Information Technology and senior officials of other relevant ministries and departments.
