HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION, ISLAMABAD Accreditation Council for Teachers Education Rules, 2005 No. Dated In the exercise of powers vested in it, under Section 21 of Higher Education Commission Ordinance, 2002, the Higher Education Commission with the approval of the Competent Authority, has framed the following Rules. 1. Short Title and Commencement (1) These Rules may be called Accreditation Council for Teachers Education Rules. (2) These Rules shall come into force at once and shall supersede all the rules on the subject. 2. Definitions: In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions shall have the meanings hereby respectively assigned to them: (1) Council means Accreditation Council for Teachers Education. (2) Controlling Authority means Higher Education Commission, through its Chairman who may supervise the affairs of the Council. (3) Accreditation Committee means the Accreditation Committee constituted by the Accreditation Council for Teachers Education. (4) Academic Programs mean all the programs leading to graduate, postgraduate degrees and post graduate diplomas in Teacher Education subjects. (5) Institution means any university or other degree awarding institutions that offers Teachers education or is involved in the research and development activities. 3. Establishment and Jurisdiction of the Council The Higher Education Commission shall establish the Accreditation Council for Teachers Education (hereafter called Council) within three months of the notification of these Rules. All the organizations, institutions of teacher education in Pakistan including those who are functioning abroad but affiliated with Pakistani universities will be under the jurisdiction of this Council. The Council may with the prior permission of the Controlling Authority establish its provincial/regional centers as it may deem necessary. 1
4. Jurisdiction of the Council 1. Teacher education degree programs will be considered for accreditation if they are offered by an institution of higher learning in one of the following categories: - a) Institutions chartered by the Federal Government or Provincial Government in the relevant field. b) Institutions affiliated by the chartered universities or degree awarding institutions through the respective universities /institutes. c) Institutions offering degree programs under affiliation/ collaboration with foreign universities under the approval of HEC d) When a multi-campus institution presents a program for accreditation, each campus will be considered as separate institution in the evaluation process. 5. Appointment of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson The Controlling Authority shall appoint persons of national eminence holding Doctorate in Education who have significant contribution to higher education as teacher, researcher or administrator in the domain of Education as Chairperson/Vice Chairperson. 6. Composition and Constitution of the Council (1) The Council (PACTE) shall consist of:- a) The Chairperson b) The Vice-Chairperson c) Secretary Education, Government of Pakistan or his nominee not below the rank of i. Joint Education Advisor (JEA). d) Secretary Education of each Provincial and AJK governments or their nominees not i. below the rank of Additional Secretaries. e) Six representatives from departments of Education of public sector universities (at least one from each province) to be appointed by the Chairperson HEC based on recommendations of the Vice-Chancellors of relevant universities. f) One renowned teacher educators to be appointed by the Chairperson, HEC. g) One foreign expert with academic background in education & experience in Accreditation preferably from technologically advanced countries. h) Two representatives of the private teacher education institutions to be appointed by the Chairperson, HEC. 2
i) A representative of Planning Commission nominated by the Deputy Chairperson Planning Commission. j) Director General Training of HEC. k) Secretary to be appointed by the Council for a period of four years on such terms & conditions as the Council may determine. (2) The Chairperson of the Council may co-opt a member for a specific task. The member so co-opted may give his opinion in the meeting but will not be eligible for voting. (3) The Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and the members shall hold office for a period of four years and shall be eligible for reappointment. Commencement date of four year tenure will be effective from the date of joining the office. The tenure will be applicable only Non-Official Members whereas the official members will be included by designation of the post. (4) The Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and the members may be removed from the office by the Controlling Authority before the expiry of their term, on proven charges of corruption, inefficiency, permanent disability or failure to attend three consecutive meetings without intimation in advance. Provided that the affected person shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in his/her defence. 7. Honorarium and Allowances The Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and members shall not be entitled to any salary or benefits for their services except such honorarium and allowances as may be prescribed by the Controlling Authority. 8. Resignation The Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and any member of the Council may submit his resignation in writing to the Controlling Authority. 9. Filling of Vacancies of the Members (1) Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the Council due to death, removal or resignation shall be filled by the Controlling Authority. (2) In the case of vacancy occurring in the office of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson shall act as Chairperson, upto a period of three months during which period the Controlling Authority shall fill-in the vacancy by appointing a regular Chairperson. 3
10. Meetings of the Council (1) Meetings of the Council shall be held at least twice a year on the date and place determined by the Chairperson. (2) For meetings of the Council, 50% of the members shall constitute the quorum. However, for meetings pertaining to review of policies, procedures and amendment in rules the quorum shall be 75%. (3) Vice Chairperson shall preside over the meeting of the Council during the absence of the Chairperson. (4) If for any reason the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson both are unable to attend any meeting of the Council, the Chairperson HEC may nominate any member to preside that meeting. (5) For a meeting, an agenda of items to be discussed will be issued to all members at least 15 days before the meeting day. (6) Minutes of the meeting will be recorded and circulated to all members and other relevant persons after confirmation by the Chairperson. (7) All decisions shall be made by majority vote. The Chairperson shall use a casting vote if the votes are equal. 11. Scope and Powers (1) All the existing teacher education degree and postgraduate diploma programs shall be within the jurisdiction of the Council. Any new program in teacher education shall also be referred to the Council for the grant of accreditation. (2) The accreditation will be for specific degree programs and not institutions. (3) Accreditation shall be mandatory for all relevant education academic programs offered by public and private sector institutions. (4) The Council shall assist and advise teacher education institutions in planning their academic programs. (5) The Council shall facilitate the intellectual development of prospective teachers (students) interested in pursuing the teaching profession and provide professional assistance to the concerned organizations. (6) The Council may consider the following aspects while framing norms and criteria for accreditation of degree programs in teacher education subjects: - 4
(a) Overall scope of the program. (b) Curricula/syllabi matching with the level of degree program. (c) Approval of the programs by competent authority of the institution. (d) The requisite infrastructure. (e) The faculty- number and qualifications. (f) Level of compatibility with international standards and trends. (g) Level of skills to be developed by the program. (h) Student support services. (i) The library facilities. (j) Internship/practice teaching facilities. (k) Facilitate for student activities and other amenities. (l) Financial assistance/loan etc. (m)level of job placement of graduates. (n) Level of market needs fulfillment. 12. Functions of the Council The following shall be the functions of the Council: (1) To develop & review policies and procedures for accreditation of teacher education programs. (2) To lay down criteria on which teacher education programs shall be assessed and equated. (3) To approve a list of academic auditors for different programs in accordance with the selection criteria to be framed by the Council for this purpose. (4) To constitute an Accreditation Committee (AC) to evaluate and cause academic audit of programs. (5) To consider the recommendations of the Accreditation Committee regarding accreditation of programs (6) To consider and make decision on any appeal with regard to accreditation. (7) To publish a list of ranking of teacher education programs. (8) To participate in the HEC Curriculum Development Committee on Teacher Education for which purpose it will have permanent representation on the said committee. (9) To promote intellectual development and understanding of subject areas in the teaching profession. (10) To collect, publish, and disseminate information and research findings on teaching profession and to facilitate the teacher education institutions for quality assurance. (11) To prepare guidelines and procedures for the orientation of academic auditors. (12) To prepare annual report on the activities of the Council and submit it to the Controlling Authority. 5
13. Process of Accreditation (1) Any institution offering or planning to offer teacher education program shall apply to the Council on the proforma prepared by the Council. (2) Accreditation Committee constituted under clause 12(4) may assess each case and make its recommendations to the Council for further consideration and decision. (3) In case of rejection of the grant of accreditation to a program, the Head of its institution can lodge a written appeal to the Controlling Authority. (4) The Controlling Authority will form an Appeals Committee comprising the following:- (a) The Chairperson of the Council (b) Dean, Faculty of Education of a university (other than the appellant s university) to be nominated by the Controlling Authority. (c) One member of the Council to be nominated by the Controlling Authority. (d) A senior teacher educator/head of an accredited teacher education institution to be nominated by the Controlling Authority. (5) The Committee will review the appeal and send its recommendations/comments to the Controlling Authority for decision. 14. Accreditation of Programs (1) The Controlling Authority, on the recommendations of the Council, shall publish a list of accredited programs from time to time. (2) The Council may direct, at any time, an institution that has an accredited program to furnish information as the Council may deem fit. (3) The Council shall appoint such academic auditors as it may deem necessary to attend any or all of the examinations held by the institutions for granting recognized teacher qualification or in respect of which accreditation has been sought. 15. Committees The Council may set up as many committees as may be required by the Council to effectively perform its functions. The composition, responsibilities and functions of a committee shall be determined by the Council 16. Accreditation Visits (1) The Council shall cause to constitute Inspection Committees for the purpose of inspection visits to evaluate each program from the approved list of auditors. Such 6
Committee shall be constituted by Accreditation Committee set up for this purpose by the Council. (2) The Inspection Committee, mentioned under clause 16(1), may also be sent to any institution who has been granted accreditation for a program by the Council to assess quality performance in academic functioning. 17. Authentication of Decisions All the decisions of the Council shall be authenticated by the signature of its Chairperson or the member to whom the powers are delegated by the Chairperson for this purpose. 18. Implementation of Decisions The Council may notify decisions regarding the rules, procedures etc. approved by it for implementation by the relevant individual and /or institution. 19. Miscellaneous (1) The Controlling Authority shall facilitate the establishment of Secretariat of the Council. (2) The Council shall also submit to the Controlling Authority after the end of every year a report on the state of accreditation of teacher education programs and their activities during the year. (3) The Council shall co-opt a member in special circumstances for a specific job other than its members. (4) If any modification required or any difficulty arises in the interpretation and application of these rules, the matter will be referred to the Controlling Authority for final decision. (5) With the approval of Controlling Authority, regional centers of the Council will be established at such times and at such places as deemed necessary. Its members will be nominated by the Council on the basis of their relevant qualification, experience and performance. Role of such centers will be as under: - a. Collecting data. b. Conducting survey on different issues. c. Making suggestions on accreditation matters. d. Facilitating the Council s activities in respective areas. 7