ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan issued a stern alert on Sunday, cautioning students against seeking admissions in two-year programmes that have been phased out since the academic year 2019.
The alert, which was shared on HEC’s official Instagram account, highlighted that it had phased out “two-year BA/Sc and MA/MSc programmes with extended deadlines of the academic year 2019 and June 30 2022”.
According to the notification, despite clear directives from HEC, certain higher education institutions continued to admit students into these obsolete programmes after the stipulated deadlines. The commission underscored that degrees obtained from such programmes lack recognition and attestation from HEC, urging students, parents, and stakeholders to refrain from enrolling in these courses.
The decision to abolish these two-year degree programmes was initially made by HEC in 2004 as part of efforts to elevate the quality of higher education in Pakistan to meet international standards. Recognizing the transition challenges for universities, HEC granted a phased-out period until 2016 for the complete cessation of these programmes.
The two-year associate degree programmes, which served as alternatives to traditional BA and BSc degrees, were equivalent to 14 years of education. Graduates of these associate degree programmes were eligible to seek admission directly into the fifth semester of a four-year BS programme upon completion.
HEC’s alert underscores its commitment to maintaining educational standards and ensuring that students pursue recognised and accredited academic paths aligned with current educational policies and international benchmarks. This initiative aims to guide prospective students towards making informed choices regarding their higher education pursuits in Pakistan.
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