LAHORE, May 04 (APP):Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood on Saturday said that universities should devise a mechanism to evaluate and review the curriculum advancement on yearly basis.
Addressing the 17th convocation of Government College University (GCU) here, he said that it was a challenge to upgrade the curriculum regularly, being taught in universities, as per international standards, adding that focus should be on revision of curriculum to meet requirements of job market.
The minister said that faculty development was another important factor in provision of quality education, for which the government was striving through Higher Education Commission (HEC). Workshops for faculty development were being organised, he added.
Shafqat Mahmood said that higher education and research should have relevance to the market as per international standards for making the youth of the country employable.
He said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was taking effective measures to put the country on the way to progress and prosperity; however, it could take some time, adding that there was a need to find out innovative solutions to steer the country out of crises.
The minister rejected the propaganda that higher education’s budget had been cut by half and said that allocation for higher education commission was Rs 65 billion during the fiscal year.
He said that deserving students would be given full scholarships but those who could afford to pay expenses of higher education must pay for it. The universities should be independent in making decisions regarding academic affairs, he added.
The minister appreciated the efforts of GCU management to take the university forward and said that the GCU had huge potential to become number one university of not only the country but also the region.
Earlier, he awarded certificates and medals to the position-holder students.
