LAHORE: Executive Body of Teaching Staff Association (TSA) University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore has shown grave concern over the proposed cut of approximately 70 pc(105 billion to 30 billion) in HEC budget for the year 2022-23.
A circular issued by the Finance Division on Monday stated that the provisional indicative budgetary ceiling and revised estimates for 2021-22 is worth Rs65,250 million and budget estimates for 2022-23 for grants related to the HEC is worth Rs30,000 million against the budget demanded by HEC of worth Rs.104.983 billion
TSA Executive body was of the view that previous government had already minimized the HEC budget due to which varsities across the country were facing severe financial crunch; therefore, a further cut in the budget will monetarily paralyse higher education in the country as a majority of varsities have no capacity to generate funding for annual expenditures.
TSA added that slashing the HEC budget will be more problematic. The varsities will be forced to halt ongoing development projects, research activities and hiring of new faculty members to meet the expenses. Likewise, the students will bear the burden of a three to fourfold hike in tuition fees by next year.
Officials said that only an effective education system can raise the nation on sound economic, social, political and moral footings. Such a low level of funding would cause inconceivable damage to the overall education system and the development of the country itself. To avoid such a situation and to protect HE in general and public sector universities, it is necessary that the Government be convinced to allocate Rs. 105 billion to HEC for the FY.2022-23.
