Edu

A notification circulating on social media has sparked confusion among students in Punjab, claiming that attendance requirements in public and private colleges and universities have been abolished. The document suggests students will no longer face restrictions due to low attendance.

The viral notice, dated January 17, 2026, falsely claims institutions have been directed not to stop students from admissions or examinations. It also mentions that attendance-related fines and penalties have been removed.

The document further alleges strict legal and administrative action against institutions that fail to comply. It is reportedly signed by a Section Officer, adding to its misleading appearance.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has officially rejected these claims. HEC confirmed that the notification is fake and has no legal standing.

The commission urged students, teachers, and institutions to remain cautious and avoid sharing unverified content. HEC advised the public to rely only on official government websites and verified social media accounts for accurate and authentic updates.

Authorities warned that spreading false information can create unnecessary panic and confusion within the education sector.

Chinese universities have surged to the top of the CWTS Leiden Ranking 2025, overtaking Harvard University in the Science category and highlighting a major shift in global academic performance. Zhejiang University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University now occupy the top two positions, pushing Harvard down to third place.

The latest rankings show a strong dominance by Chinese institutions, which hold most of the top positions, signaling China’s growing influence in global scientific research. The CWTS Leiden Ranking, compiled by the Centre for Science and Technology Studies at Leiden University, evaluates the research output of more than 1,500 universities worldwide using data from the Web of Science.

In earlier years, particularly during the 2006–2009 period, US universities dominated the rankings, with Harvard consistently leading the list. However, the landscape has changed significantly, with several leading American institutions no longer appearing among the top performers.

Harvard, despite its recent decline, remained the world’s top-ranked science university for over a decade before Chinese universities began to take the lead.