Peshawar: In a landmark move, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Provincial Assembly has passed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities Amendment Bill 2024, a sweeping reform aimed at reshaping the governance of public sector universities in the province. The bill, presented by KP’s Minister for Higher Education, Meena Khan, introduces significant changes that are set to enhance leadership accountability, transparency, and empowerment within the region’s higher education system.
A key highlight of the amendment is the shifting of the Chancellor’s role from the Governor to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Under the new framework, the Chief Minister will now hold the authority to oversee the administration of all public universities in the province, streamlining decision-making processes and ensuring greater alignment with provincial governance.
The bill also grants the Chief Minister the responsibility of appointing Vice-Chancellors (VCs) for universities, a process designed to promote merit and transparency. An Academic Search Committee will recommend three qualified candidates for each position, ensuring a fair and rigorous selection process. The tenure for Vice-Chancellors has been set at four years, but their continuation in office will be contingent upon an evaluation by a government-established Monitoring Committee. This committee will assess the VC’s performance, and if it falls below 65%, the committee will have the authority to terminate their term.
In a historic and progressive move, the amendment mandates that only women will be eligible to serve as Vice-Chancellors at women’s universities in the province. This provision aims to foster female leadership and empower women within the educational sector, ensuring greater representation and opportunities for women in high-level administrative roles.
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The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities Amendment Bill 2024 represents a bold step toward centralizing university leadership under the provincial government, while introducing strong mechanisms for accountability and performance monitoring. It also reflects the government’s commitment to advancing gender equality by prioritizing women in leadership positions within women’s institutions.
As Khyber Pakhtunkhwa takes this significant step toward reform, the new bill promises to set a strong foundation for the future of higher education in the province, paving the way for more transparent, efficient, and inclusive university governance.
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