The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has approved ongoing health benefits for its employees and their spouses amid financial strains.
The decision was made during the HEC’s 44th meeting, chaired by Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed. The new policy extends these health benefits not only to contract employees but also to senior officials, including the chairperson and executive director.
The move has drawn criticism from some quarters, who argue that offering such post-contract perks to temporary staff is not financially viable, especially when universities are already facing funding shortfalls.
The HEC is facing severe financial strains due to budget cuts. Despite the relentless inflation and mounting operational expenses, the HEC’s annual budget has been capped at just Rs. 39.48 billion.
For context, the HEC’s development budget in 2018 was Rs. 46.23 billion.
Education experts are sounding the alarm bells, urging the government to boost the HEC’s financial resources and to officially announce an “education emergency” to guarantee that every child has the opportunity to pursue higher education.
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