Tehran, April 2, IRNA -- The draft of plans and objectives set by the the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology for the new Iranian year, which has previously been returned by the Guardians Council (GC) to the Majlis, will be on the agenda of parliament when it convenes for its first session following the holidays of the New Iranian Year (March 20-April 3) in the coming week.

It was announced here Friday that the draft, which was submitted to Majlis by the cabinet in mid-summer of 2001, was finally ratified by mid-fall of 2002.

However, after the bill was forwarded to the GC as required by law, it was found to be in conflict with the requirements of the High Council for the Cultural Revolution.

According to the bill, approval of letters of association and issuance of licenses for the establishment or expansion of governmental or non-governmental higher education units or research institutes and annual reports on the financial performance of universities and higher institutes of learning for submission to the Majlis Training and Research Commission are among the basic tasks of the ministry.

In accordance with Art. 3 of the draft, which has received the approval of Majlis, once the bill is passed the High Council for Sciences, Research and Technology headed by the president will convene.

The bill further states that the council members shall consist of the president, ministers of science, research and technology, health, treatment and medical training as well as training and education, two to four cabinet members, the head of the Management and Planning Organization (MPO) and the Supreme Leader's representative in universities.

Meanwhile, two members of the Majlis Training and Research Commission, the director of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI), heads of academies of science, medical sciences, art, Persian language and literature, three chancellors of state universities including one from the medical sciences universities selected by their central councils are also among the members of the high council.

Among other tasks of the high council are making decisions on long-term and medium-term policies, establishing priorities for the strategic development of the fields of higher education, sciences, research and technology, coordinating related affairs and deciding major investments required by training, research and technological projects as well as making assessments of required funds for such projects.

According to Art. 5 of the draft, three councils of sciences, training, research and technology as well as social and cultural affairs will be established to devise plans for the development of sciences, higher education, research, technology, cultural and social affairs.

Note 1 of Art. 5 says that the members, duties and powers of specified councils are to be delineated by the Ministry of Sciences, Research and Technology and submitted to the cabinet for final approval.

Majlis convened for its last session in 1382 on March 15. Its first session for the new Iranian year will be on Sunday.