A report in a section of the media should serve as an eye-opener for policy and decision makers as it reveals critically low enrolment in the institutions of higher learning with dire consequences for progress and development of the country.
It says the number of universities increased from 220 to 269 during the last five years but the student enrolment is declining as confirmed by a 13% reduction in just one year (2022-23 while actual figures for subsequent two years are not available as the Economic Survey skipped them conveniently). However, the current admissions cycle for BSc honours and master’s programmes is nearing its end, yet most public universities — with some exceptions — continue to struggle to fill their allocated seats. A similar trend emerges at the degree college level where enrolment has fallen from its peak of 771,600 students in 2019-20 to under 650,000 in 2023-24. This is despite repeated admission advertisements, extended deadlines, relaxed admissions criteria, fee waivers for high achievers and a host of other promotional measures.
This speaks volumes about the future of our youth, whose rising population is otherwise seen as a demographic dividend and is the logical outcome of the government dragging its feet from the education sector. What a pity that yearly budgets ought to increase in any case keeping in view the sharp rise in inflation but the budget for higher education is facing cuts for the last several years, impacting upon quality and standards of education and research and development, which is considered to be the hallmark of higher education. This is evident from the fact that the budget for the Higher Education Commission (HEC), which was Rs. 111 billion in 2019 fell to Rs. 105.9 billion in the current financial year despite years of cumulative inflation and an increase in the number of universities. As the government is retreating from the education sector, the universities have been left with no option but to increase their fees, introduce new academic programmes and expand the existing ones as part of the efforts to strengthen their resource base but higher fees have deprived average Pakistanis of the opportunity of taking admission in universities. It is also a reality that apart from the budgetary constraints, the syllabus being taught in most of the institutions of higher learning is outdated and not reflective of the present-day requirements. The quality of teaching and lack of research and development is also a factor for disenchantment of the youth and their parents and many of the students prefer going abroad if they have the resources or get an opportunity of sponsored admissions. No doubt, those proceeding abroad will be able to equip themselves with quality education but the country will be the ultimate sufferer as many of them have no intention to come back and run from pillar to post to find a job like hundreds of thousands of other degree-holders. Agricultural universities are said to be facing even a more serious crisis as the number of enrolled students has fallen significantly due to a number of factors that have made agri education unattractive. Apart from higher education, school and college education has also suffered hugely as the government considers salaries and pensions of teachers a burden. The policy changes, detrimental to the professional careers of teachers, have forced many of them to seek premature retirements while others stand demoralized due to the myopic education vision of the government. Regrettably, the federal and provincial governments have relegated their roles and responsibilities to tax-imposing entities, devoid of social obligations and welfare of the people. As the existing policy will have catastrophic consequences for the future of the country, it is high time that the Parliament fulfils its responsibility of taking necessary steps to safeguard core interests of the country that are threatened by adhocism.
