UoP students continued sit-in against hike in fees

Salman Yousafzai

PESHAWAR: University of Peshawar’s students continued sit-in for the second day against varsity administration and hike in fees at Administration block and demanded the resignation of Vice Chancellor.

University students including male and female gathered in front of VC office at Administration block and chanted slogan against University Administration and demanded of government for bad management.

The students demanded that the university take back the increased in tuition fee. The protesters said the university administration is increasing the tuition 10 percent every year, which is not affordable for all especially the students from middle-class.

Moreover, they also demanded that scholarship should be provided to the deserving students, the government should announce an endowment fund and Ph.D. students should be provided with a research grant.

They also demanded to be provided with important facilities including hostels for day scholars, along with transport facilities for students living in hostels.

“We will continue the protest till our demands are met,” said a male student.

It was the second day of students protest and they camped outside the VC’s office. The students remarked that they will go on a hunger strike if necessary.

Meanwhile, the UoP issued a statement that varsity administration is fully committed to providing good educational environment to the students and would take every step towards its accomplishment.

The spokesman of the University in a statement categorically reiterated that students are the main stakeholders of this institution and their genuine demands will be met, and steps in the right directions being taken accordingly.

He opined that 14 demands were put forth by the protesting students including 10% rise in tuition fee, improvement of facilities in the hostel, transport facility, problems of drop out students and a plea for a research grant.

Towards the solution of the same, the spokesman said that transport facility would be provided to the day scholar students forthwith and the Vice Chancellor has directed the transport officer to allocate two buses for them. As far as the allocation for the research grant for scholars, the matter is to be taken up vigorously with the Higher Education Commission.

The matter of drop out students would be looked into by a committee and dealt with as per rules on compassionate grounds.

As regards the demand of 10% increase in fee notified on the directions of the Syndicate of the University, the matter is to be presented before the Syndicate in its meeting to be held on December 7, 2017 with a special request to the concerned authority to decide the matter sympathetically, In the meanwhile any department charging more than 10% fee has been discontinued immediately, he said.

The spokesman further stated that certain demands like the announcement of students’ endowment fund, the election of the students union may be taken up with the provincial government for an amicable solution. While demands like registration of Masters and (BS Hons) education vis a vis decision regarding discontinuation of B.A and Master’s Degree Programs by HEC is to be taken up with the Higher Education Commission by the University.

He resolved that varsity administration will ensure that renovation work in the hostels is done as per contract agreement and no payment will be made to the concerned contractors till the civil work comes up to the required benchmark.

Making University a safer place for students and Campus community is a top priority and security on campus would be maintained at all cost. He informed that zero-tolerance policy has been adopted for staying of outsiders in varsity hostels.