ISLAMABAD: A major governance gap in Pakistan’s education sector has come under scrutiny after the Senate committee flagged severe underrepresentation of women in top decision making bodies, alongside a shortage of 1,200 teachers and a Rs. 1 billion deficit in laboratory infrastructure, raising questions over policy implementation despite massive public spending.
The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education, chaired by Bushra Anjum Butt, took strong notice of gender imbalance in the Higher Education Commission (HEC), where only two out of seven board members are women. Calling the situation unacceptable, the committee ordered immediate restructuring to ensure compliance with the 33% women’s representation policy, revising the board composition to include three female members.
Lawmakers observed that despite clear policy directives, institutions have failed to implement gender inclusion in practice. The chairperson criticized what she described as a lack of institutional ownership, warning that mere policy announcements without enforcement undermine governance standards.
The meeting also exposed deeper structural issues, with officials confirming a shortage of 1,200 teachers against a sanctioned strength of 9,500, significantly affecting service delivery in federal institutions. The committee directed urgent recruitment through the Federal Public Service Commission, while noting interim hiring measures from other institutions.
In addition to staffing shortages, the committee highlighted infrastructure gaps, particularly the need to upgrade 187 laboratories requiring an estimated Rs. 1 billion. Members stressed that without proper facilities, the introduction of new technical courses at primary and matric levels would fail to deliver meaningful outcomes.
Despite these challenges, the ministry presented figures showing substantial financial allocations and utilization. A total of 15 development projects worth Rs. 15,799.92 million are underway, with Rs. 14,269 million already released. Similarly, projects under the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission amounting to Rs. 5,328 million have seen disbursements of Rs. 4,486 million, while 86% of the IT budget has already been utilized, including internet provision to 428 schools.
However, lawmakers questioned whether high spending is translating into tangible improvements, especially in light of ongoing complaints about delays in textbook delivery and unresolved student issues.
The committee also took a firm stance on the longstanding degree attestation issue affecting students of Al Khair University and Global University. Students appeared before the committee and highlighted their grievances, prompting directives to the HEC to immediately resolve the matter and ensure a transparent attestation system.
Future initiatives, including a Rs. 23,100 million Daanish School project in Sohbatpur and scholarship programs worth Rs. 6,500 million, were noted, but members stressed that governance, accountability, and implementation must be strengthened to ensure these investments deliver results.
The committee further warned that it would move beyond routine meetings and conduct on site inspections of key institutions, including HEC and NAVTTC, to directly assess performance and financial utilization.
