Senate Education Committee Vows To Resolve Degree Attestation Issues

News Desk

Islamabad: Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training (FE&PT) Chairperson Senator Bushra Anjum Butt has committed to tackle the widespread challenges students face related to degree attestation and equivalency nationwide.

During a recent committee meeting, Senator Butt expressed her dedication to youth empowerment through education. She stressed the importance of resolving these issues collaboratively and without allowing past grievances to hinder progress.

Senator Bushra acknowledged the concerns raised by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman and the committee decided to hold a detailed session at the HEC to discuss a plan of action for degree attestation matters.

They also resolved to address each case individually to ensure fair treatment. A proposed checklist outlining the mandatory attestation and equivalency document requirements from universities will be made available on the HEC website.

The committee emphasized the need for rigorous monitoring to prevent the issuance of fraudulent degrees and to safeguard the nation’s integrity. Universities experiencing challenges were invited to an upcoming meeting to discuss their issues.

Addressing concerns about fraudulent degrees and attestation processes, Chairperson underscored the HEC’s role in identifying and penalizing universities that issue fake degrees.

Bushra Anjum called for clear public messaging and awareness campaigns to support affected students and proposed that universities found issuing fraudulent degrees face bans. Additionally, students would be subject to testing for future admissions, and affected students would be compensated financially by the universities.

The committee urged the HEC to take decisive action against fraudulent institutions and encouraged genuine universities to collaborate closely in this effort. Meanwhile, the HEC presented an initiative to form a committee to address student challenges and administrative issues within educational institutions. An in-camera meeting is requested to reveal evidence of fraudulence at certain universities.

Additionally, the committee unanimously passed the ‘WAPDA University Islamabad Bill 2024’, proposed by Senators Fawzia Arshad, Rana Mahmood-Ul-Hassan and Umer Farooq, with endorsements from both the ministry and committee members.