Increase in tuition fee of University of Peshawar compelled the students of the varsity to protest
KECH: According to a recent news story, the increase in tuition fee of University of Peshawar compelled the students of the varsity to voice their concern against this, resulting in a campus-wide protest. However, in an attempt to take control of the situation the police baton charged the students, injuring at least six of them. The injured were rushed to Khyber Teaching Hospital.
However, such an act only goes on to show the incompetency of our law enforcing departments and that of the university, who had called the police, to handle students who were peacefully protesting on the campus. While the students were rightly protesting against the fee hike, as an increased fee acts as a hurdle for students coming from less affluent backgrounds to get an education, the show of power by the police impacts badly on the students, who then believe that without violence no goal can be achieved.
It is for this reason that the police department as well as the university should submit a public apology. On the other hand, the government should take notice of the fee hike of not only Peshawar University but also of other universities which have increased their fees. Our youth is our future and educating them should be our priority, even if it means reducing tuition fees.
Adnan Maqsood
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2018.
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