The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has urged universities in Pakistan to institute effective protocols and programmes to curb opportunities of radicalization of students and university staff, while at the same time strengthening security arrangements on campuses.
In a letter issued to Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Heads of universities, the Chairman HEC has said that:
“Some of the recent acts of violence and terrorism in the country have exposed the involvement of university students in such disastrous incidents. This is quite unfortunate and underscores that intolerance, radicalization, and extremism is on the rise, and universities need to challenge this state of affairs.”
The letter states that HEC has been constantly trying to impress on the top leadership of the universities to take note of possible security threats, within and outside the university’s premises.
Citing the Vice Chancellors’ Committee meeting held in May 2017, the letter says that connection and coordination with students should be strengthened. Additionally, the faculty should be more visible across all social spaces at the universities so as to eliminate the student-faculty disconnect as much as possible.
The letter emphasizes that mentoring and counselling of students should be prioritized and be a regular activity.
“Any unusual behavior must be carefully monitored and analysed,” the letter maintains.
It also urges that directorates for students should be established for registering their problems and offering solutions to them. Promoting tutorials, sports and extra-curricular activities is needed so that constant engagement with students is being maintained.
HEC further advocates holding of public lectures to promote understanding, tolerance and peaceful co-existence.
The Vice Chancellors’ Committee Meeting was followed up with a seminar organised in collaboration with the Inter-Services Public Relations on the role of youth in rejecting extremism at GHQ, Rawalpindi. A board spectrum of realities and difficulties were discussed during the seminar and the universities’ leadership was encouraged to institute sustainable programmes and processes to address the imminent threat of radicalization.
The HEC Chairman has further reiterated that the higher education sector is expected to not only get rid of any involvement in acts of extremism, but also take measures that engage youth and students in gainful academic and social activities that envisage professionalism, higher moral and ethical conduct, tolerance and respect for divergence.
He expressed his confidence that with the university heads’ persistent personal involvement and supervision, institutions of Higher Education will be made a better and indisputable places of learning, training and societal development.
Great,, pass on the buck to the VC’s, who are not at all connected with the students at any level.
Yaha Bhi Army Bula Lo Security K Liye A Jayegi :
Jab Karachi Main Pani Nikalne A Sakti hai to Yaha Bhi A Sakti hai..
Serious ho kay article to parh liya kar yaar, before commenting.