Punjab to start 4-year BA/BSc

By Waqar Gillani

LAHORE: The Punjab government will gradually introduce 4-year bachelor degree programmes in all public sector universities according to the directions of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), said Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool.

The governor, who is chancellor of all public universities in the province, said this while talking to Daily Times after a meeting on Friday to review the higher education reforms agenda attended by PU acting vice chancellor, and many professors of the PU and other universities.

The meeting decided the 4-year plan could not be implemented in small colleges especially in remote areas because it require extensive curriculum, equipment and highly trained teachers, but these colleges did not have proper laboratories, libraries and other infrastructure. Initially this programme should start in big cities and main universities, he added.

The PU vice chancellor informed the meeting that the PU has already started 4-year degrees in six disciplines including computer sciences and business management.

An HEC official told Daily Times that the HEC was insisting the provinces introduce a 4-year degree programme quickly.

Punjab Education Minister Mian Imran Masood told Daily Times that he has already formed a committee to introduce 4-year BA/BSc degree courses at public institutions and its report was likely soon. Some educationists, while supporting the 4-year degree programme, told Daily Times that the programme should be immediately adopted. They suggested that the government should introduce 2-year associate bachelors degree for job seekers, while a 4-year degree should be for the academic and research purposes.

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