US assures to provide more assistance in education sector in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Apr 23 (APP): United States Friday assured to provide more financial assistance and cooperation in education sector, especially in higher education of Pakistan. U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson inaugurating 7^th annual conference of Fulbright and Humphrey Alumni at Quaid-e-Azam University here said American teachers will come to Pakistan to teach students here in the universities and to promote people to people interaction.

The Ambassador congratulated the alumni on the 60^th anniversary of the Fulbright Program in Pakistan, which is the largest in the world.

The US Ambassador said, as part of the growing Pak-US relationship, the United States had increased core exchange programmes with Pakistan.

The ambassador said since the start of the Fulbright programme, more than 4,000 persons from Pakistan and US have participated in it.

She said besides providing higher education to the students under Fulbright Programme, it also provide a chance to promote people to people contacts. “This programme also helpful in understanding each other,” she said.

Referring to the cooperation in last five years, the ambassador said USAID and HEC (Higher Education Commission) made joint efforts for the success of the programme. It is also helping in capacity building in the education sector, she added.

She said in last five years, 947 students were sent to America for higher studies that include 42 percent of women.

The ambassador said the first agreement initiating the programme was signed on September 23, 1950 - and the first Pakistanis and Americans traveled each way that same year.

She said, it was one of the very first agreements of its kind and has since been extended to 144 countries around the world.

The ambassador said late Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright, from her home state, a graduate and later President of the University of Arkansas, was the principal architect of the American educational exchange program that carries his name, Fulbright.

Referring to the importance of the Fulbright programme, she said, “The more we see Pakistanis on our campuses, the better Americans will understand Pakistan and South Asia - a region with which America’s long-term future is closely interwoven.”

She said, “There is still much more to do. We are planning, through our expanding assistance programs, to invest more in Pakistan’s higher education.”

The ambassador said, “We are looking to help build capacity here in Pakistan by developing with your government several higher education ‘centers of excellence’ where investments in curriculum development, full-tuition scholarships and infrastructure improvements will begin to build for Pakistan the capability to research and propose policy solutions for its socio-economic challenges.”

She said scholarships are based on merit and awarded after a transparent selection process that has never been tainted by corruption or inappropriate preference.

The ambassador said ‘Community College Development Initiative’ has been started as new project which allows people with two-year Bachelor degrees to compete for a year-long program in a community college.

She appreciated the efforts of Pakistanis and Americans, who have served on the bilateral Board of Directors of the U.S. Educational Foundation in Pakistan in helping the people for higher education.

The ambassador said the staff of the USEFP, including its Acting Executive Director Rita Akhtar also deserves thanks for their hard work in keeping this large programme running - and for organizing this conference and celebration today.

The Fulbright Programme is the U.S. Government’s flagship academic exchange programme.

It is administered by the U.S. Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP).

Prominent alumni of the Fulbright Program include nine current Vice Chancellors of Pakistani universities.

In this fall 94 Pakistani students will be beginning Masters degree programs and 60 will be beginning Ph.D. programs in the United States.

Other new exchange programs will send one hundred Pakistani students to U.S. colleges and universities and sixty Pakistani students to U.S. community colleges for advanced skills training in the next academic year.

Chairman Higher Education Commission Dr. Javed Leghari speaking on the occasion said 247 persons were sent to US for Ph.D study.

He said Fulbright Scholarship Programme is one of the component of the HEC projects and efforts are being made to enhance the number of scholarship every year.

Commenting on the limited allocation for higher studies in Pakistan, the HEC Chairman said less than five percent of the education sector has the access to higher studies and this ratio is even 2 to 3 per cent in women graduates.

He said despite limited financial resources, the HEC has been making sincere efforts to promote higher educational facilities.

He also appreciated the recent financial assistance of 45 million dollars from America for improving infrastructure and other facilities in the universities.

Secretary Education Imtiaz Qazi addressing the conference said the government has approved the increase in the funds for the higher education.

Acting USEFP Executive Director Rita Akhtar speaking on the occasion highlighted the main features of the mission of U.S. Educational Foundation in Pakistan for helping the students to study in various educational institutions in America.