Prof. Dr. Arshad Munir
EduVision
Tertiary education in Pakistan has been facing major financial constraints for several years. The federal government has allocated Rs 76.589 billion for higher education affairs and services in the fiscal year 2023-2024 and Rs 74.609 billion in 2022-2023 for more than 200 tertiary institutions in Pakistan, which translates to an average of around Rs 400 million per university. Should we compare our total budget for over 200 universities (max: $275 million with Oxford University’s $3.8 billion budget? Of course not, to be honest, we should look in our own street and make a concerted effort to have reached the sky.All stakeholders i.e. higher education commissions, provincial education commissions, ministries of higher education, universities are calling for low and less allocation of funds from governments causing severe financial constraints and unfortunately blaming each other for the prevailing situation The KPK government even proposed to declare higher education as an essential service in accordance with the Basic Services Act, with a ban on the establishment of new universities as well as a ban on new appointments to BPS 1 to 16 and the abolition of vacancies. 2021-22 was Rs 4113 crore and 3913 crore for 2022-23.However, the projected surplus for 2023-24 is due to only Rs 545 crore. inflation, lack of savings and underperformance of ORIC”. Similarly, Punjab Governor Eng. Muhammad Balighur Rehman recently approved the recommendations submitted by the members of the consortium under the leadership of renowned scientist and renowned administrator, Prof. Dr. and senate etc. for the modernization of colleges in the province of Punjab. Fortunately, the Higher Education Commission has two living legends (Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad and Prof. Dr. Zia ul Qayum) who have strong professional and administrative skills and would hopefully be able to enhance the reputation of the commission as well as universities in Pakistan. As all efforts are being made to set tertiary institutions on the right track, the urgent need for strategic reforms and realignment of priorities has been highlighted.
It is a history lesson as well as a principle of economics to find new markets to sell your product in order to achieve prosperity. In my opinion, the African continent is a potential market for Pakistan when it comes to educational matters and Nigeria can be the best target to achieve our goals because it is not only a densely populated country but also spends more than 5% of GDP on education. Pakistan-Nigeria relations are cordial, friendly and strong with bilateral agreements on trade, law enforcement cooperation and defense cooperation. The Nigerian people and especially the Muslim majority states in the north have great affection and admiration for Pakistan. The Sultan of Sokoto Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar CFR, who is regarded as the spiritual leader of Nigerian Muslims as well as a leading figure in Nigerian society, has love and affection for Pakistan and the people of Pakistan. He also served as Defense Attaché in Pakistan and can speak URDU. We could create business contacts between Nigeria and Pakistan in the field of education by making connections with national and local rulers. As both a student and a stakeholder, I would like to contribute to the above efforts by presenting an “EFG” plan to ensure the financial sustainability and continued development of higher education in Pakistan by attracting Nigerians to join Pak tertiary institutions through TETFund and funding from state governments.
TETFund (Tertiary Education Trust Fund) is an intervention agency that offers funding to all levels of public tertiary institutions. Funds are disbursed for the general improvement of federal and state tertiary education, for the provision or maintenance of basic physical infrastructure for teaching and learning, research and publication, training and development of academic staff and any other needs which, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees, are essential and essential to improving and maintaining standards in higher education. If we get only two students from 36 states and only 28 students from TETFund, that would be one hundred international students who can be adjusted in different colleges in Pakistan.
Approximate financial assistance from the federal and state governments is between 20-25 million Naira per scholar for postgraduate studies, which is approximately Rs 9-10 million, which means an income of Rs 900 million per year. The amount can increase with our performance and commitment.
The proposal can increase the financial strength of universities and would help create international networking that would bring in foreign faculty and international students, which would also lead to a high global ranking. I am ready to submit my detailed proposal to all interested parties and will be available free of charge for this noble cause. The task is, of course, difficult and painstaking, but it would bring prosperity to our state and society. God clearly announced in Surah Najam, verses 39-40, “and that each person will have only what he has striven for, and that the ‘result’ of their efforts will be seen ‘in his record'”.
The author is a Professor Islamic Studies at the Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan with an expansive experience of 23 years in teaching, research and administrative tasks. He can be contacted at amunir@gudgk.edu.pk