Private varsities included in govt’s scholarship initiative: minister

LAHORE: A meeting chaired by Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat was held with the heads of private universities to discuss the procedures for awarding scholarships to students and address various issues related to the ‘Chief Minister Punjab Honhaar Scholarship Program.’

During the meeting, the minister emphasised the importance of expanding educational opportunities and directed universities to hold awareness seminars about the scholarship scheme. Additionally, he instructed the Higher Education Department to allocate a special quota for minority students, ensuring inclusive access to the scholarship programme.

The minister also highlighted that for the first time, the private sector has been included in this scholarship initiative. He stressed that the government aimed to maximise educational opportunities for the youth through a public-private partnership. The programme has already expanded significantly, including 50 public universities, 7 private universities, 5 federal universities, 331 public colleges, and 14 public sector medical colleges under its umbrella. This broad inclusion is seen as a major step in increasing access to higher education for students across the province.

In discussing the programme's current status, the minister revealed that 43,000 students have already logged into the programme portal, over 1,100 applications have been received, and more than 178,000 students have accessed information about the scholarships. To further enhance the programme, more universities will gradually be incorporated.

In areas where there are no public universities, private institutions will be utilised to ensure students have access to higher education. Hayat underscored the personal involvement of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, noting that she has taken a keen interest in the programme and receives regular updates on its progress.

The scholarship scheme will support 67 different academic programmes. Over the next eight years, a total of 130 billion rupees has been allocated to fund the scheme, which will provide 30,000 scholarships annually.

The heads of private universities in attendance praised the educational vision of both Punjab's Chief Minister and Education Minister, stating that the ‘Honhaar Scholarship Programme’ was not only a responsible use of tax revenues but also a more impactful initiative than previous programs, such as the laptop distribution scheme.

To ensure fairness, Hayat instructed the Higher Education Department to maintain strict merit-based criteria in awarding scholarships. He said scholarship programme represents the fulfillment of another government promise, and it marks a significant milestone in advancing education for deserving students throughout the province.