Web Desk: Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC) has launched a comprehensive review of its scholarship policies for overseas PhD students, aiming to shift from punitive measures toward a more supportive academic framework.
The commission is currently considering a proposal to abolish financial penalties for scholars who fail to complete their doctoral degrees while studying abroad on government funding. This move signals a significant departure from previous regulations that often resulted in legal and financial pressure on struggling students.
Sources within the HEC indicate that the new policy intends to stop the harassment of scholars who exceed their allotted timeframe for degree completion. Data provided by the commission justifies this lenient approach, noting that the PhD failure rate for Pakistani scholars sits at a remarkably low 5% compared to a global average of nearly 50%.
Furthermore, the HEC plans to introduce several amendments to the mandatory affidavits and bonds signed by students before their departure. Officials are specifically reviewing the five-year mandatory service bond to make it more flexible.
Despite the easing of academic penalties, the commission maintains a strict stance on administrative violations. Under the proposed guidelines, scholars who complete their degrees but choose to settle abroad permanently without returning to Pakistan will still face heavy fines.
Additionally, the new policy will incorporate specific clauses to discourage students from seeking political asylum in foreign countries while on state-funded programs. This measure aims to ensure that the national investment in higher education translates into professional contributions within Pakistan.
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