Rs14.2m allocated for accreditation council: IT institutes
ISLAMABAD- The government has earmarked an amount of Rs14.2 million under the public sector development programme (PSDP) for the year 2002-03 for the national accreditation council for IT institutes.
The council was recently approved by the government and would be established after cabinet’s final approval.
The allocation also includes foreign component of Rs4 million and the government will put in the remaining Rs10.2 million from its own pocket. The total cost of the project was Rs55.2 million out of which Rs40.9 million had been spent by June 2002.
Conceived by federal science and technology minister, Prof Dr Attaur Rehman, the accreditation council intends to streamline and standardized the mushroom growth of IT institutes in the country because of the growing concern about the quality of education being imparted in such institutes.
The government by establishing the accreditation council intends to lay down minimum requirements of IT education to ensure that the institutions have physical, professional and financial resources to sustain itself.
The syllabi to be taught would be developed by the council besides it would also formulate guidelines for improving standards and quality of teaching, education, research and system of examination. This would help in maintaining uniform standards throughout the country.
The council will grant accreditation to the IT institutes, both in the public and private sector, which will conform to the requirements laid down by the council. Institutes which will not be granted accreditation will not be allowed to operate. These institutes would be unable to issue certificates, diplomas and degrees in the information technology education.
The council has been empowered to validate the curricula and syllabi of the accreditated institutions of higher education. It could also supervise the academic programme and development schemes of the IT institutes to ensure that the internal procedures for review and upgradation of curricula remain effective even after accreditation has been granted.
The council has the authority to carry out inspections of the institutions to ensure that they are meeting the minimum requirements, monitor academic performance, internal procedures for course development, quality control, education standards, staff development programs and conduct periodic academic audit of institutions.
Source: Dawn
Date:6/20/2002
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