COMPARISON OF THE QUALITY OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR INSTITUTIONS IN PAKISTAN

The higher education sub sector is very important in education and plays leadership role in all walks of life. By providing the quality education we can produce quality products. The public sector in higher education could not fulfill its functions and due to shortage of funds, ill qualified teachers, lack of professional competencies and inadequate research facilities in the universities. Private sector is competing with public sector in education. With the increasing number of higher education institutions in both the sectors in Pakistan, the study aimed at comparing the quality of higher education in public and private sectors. The objectives of the study were; (a) to investigate the quality of staff of higher education in public and private sector institutions in Pakistan. (b) To analyze the quality of students of higher education in public and private sector institutions in Pakistan. (c) To examine the quality of management of higher education in public and private sector institutions in Pakistan. (d) To compare the quality of infrastructure of higher education in public and private sector institutions in Pakistan. (e) To suggest measures for improvement of the quality of higher education institutions in Pakistan. The population of the study was all the public and private universities and degree awarding institutions in Pakistan. The sample was twenty universities/degree awarding institutions; ten from public sector and ten from the private sector. The respondent were five administrators, fifteen teachers, and fifty students from each sample universities and were randomly selected. Three Questionnaires on five-point (Likert scale) were used for qualitative and one questionnaire form was used for quantitative data collection. The researcher collected the data personally and with the help of five assistants. Data were tabulated and analyzed using the percentage and two-way chi-square. On the basis of the analysis, conclusions were drawn and following recommendations were framed. The Laws and Rules related to performance targets of education must be revised; the present Education Policy needs to incorporate a practical framework of Quality Assurance. It is strongly recommended that the pay structure of teachers in public sector universities should be upgraded and revised, and the promotion of the teachers should be inked with their performance. Training of teachers in both the sectors of higher education should be ensured. No teacher should be appointed without proper training with at least duration of one year. An Effective Accreditation System and Quality Assurance program must be improved. The standard of examination system can be further improved to have a continuous system of evaluation The funding for higher education may be increased to at least 4% of GNP by the year 2005. It is imperative to enhance the quality and quantity of higher education in Pakistan. The quantities may be achieved by establishing institutions of higher level. The quality of higher education may be enhanced through providing proper professional training to the teachers by revising the existing curricula. The libraries and laboratories should be properly equipped by allocating more funds. The strict discipline and the co-curricular activities in the public sector should be encouraged for punctuality and regularity in classes. It is highly recommended that honest, efficient and dedicated administration should be appointed.