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Education ministry to set up R&D fund from next fiscal year

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The ministry of science and technology will establish a research and development fund in the next fiscal year. This was announced by the federal minister for science and technology, Dr Atta-ur-Rehman, at the concluding session of the OIC Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH).

The minister stated that the fund would be utilised for producing 300 Ph Ds in science subjects. The duration of each programme would be 4 to 5 years and each student would get Rs 0.5 million, out of which Rs 50,000 would be given to the student for expenses.

He added that another batch of 100 students would be given scholarships for doing Ph D in science subject from abroad. He said that through criminal negligence of previous governments the foundations of education had been uprooted in the country. Giving an instance he said that PCSIR, a centre of excellence in the country, has at present 70 Ph Ds while it used to have 270 Ph Ds in the past.

The minister said that the universities are in a deplorable state but, as at present a bold and fearless voice is present in the cabinet, the results would be seen soon. He said that the money from the R and D fund would not be doled out aimlessly but the money from the fund would be spent on strengthening educational institutions in the country.

Dr Rehman said that the ministry of education is already considering a proposal which would recommend promotion of the teaching staff, especially in universities, on the basis of output and not on the basis of seniority.

Later, while talking to reporters, the minister said that his main aim would be strengthen higher seats of learning in the country by enforcing merit and quality. He said that at present only 50 to 60 Ph Ds are being produced annually and he wants to increase this by giving opportunities to industrious students.