Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has devised a transparent mechanism to offer an opportunity to the students of Global Institute, Lahore’s unrecognized colleges, for recognition of their educational degrees.
HEC, through Education Testing Council (ETC), will arrange Special Graduate Assessment Test (GAT) for the students, HEC said in a press release on Tuesday.
HEC is also exploring the possibility to arrange tests for the overseas students of the Global Institute in the designated regions including, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, subject to receiving a considerable number of applications – a minimum of 100 students from a city.
According to the press release, Global Institute, Lahore is an HEC-recognized chartered Institution in the private sector established under the Punjab Act II of 2011. According to the law, the Institute was allowed to operate only at a specific place in Lahore, i.e., 3-Aurangzaib Block, New Garden Town.
However, in defiance of decisions of the Federal Cabinet and Committee of Chancellors, the Institute established several illegal colleges through invalid/illegitimate agreements with certain institutions/individuals by exceeding its territorial limits.
Students need to pass GAT test in one attempt
Education Testing Council (ETC) will arrange the Special GAT as per the weightage/composition available on the HEC website. The students must pass the GAT test in one attempt with minimum of 50 percent marks.
In this regard, HEC also released a Student and Parent Alert through national dailies on January 01, 2023, for information to students to get themselves registered with ETC by January 31st, 2023.
The tentative date for the Special GAT test is March 12, 2023. All stakeholders are being informed through disseminating information on the HEC website, media, and Global Institute’s office.
HEC reiterates its commitment and obligation to maintaining quality academic standards, equity, and merit across the board.
