The recent fee hike by the University of Karachi, a public institution that is supposed to make education accessible to all, has disturbed the students and their families, many of whom are already struggling to make ends meet in these times of backbreaking price hike. The raise in the examination fee from Rs2,000 to Rs4,500 — which come to more than 100% — is simply unacceptable. Moreover, the introduction of the QuickPay platform, ostensibly intended to facilitate fee payment, seems more like a means for profit making. Charging a processing fee of Rs100 on payments is outrageous. Additionally, the platform imposes a Rs550 fee just to use the online payment system. Is it some kind of a tax? If so, it does not have any basis, and must be withdrawn forthwith.
If the government-run institutions want to compete with private institutions in terms of fee structures then they should also provide the kind of facilities that the private ones offer like air-conditioned classrooms, libraries, common rooms and cafes amid an overall decent learning environment, besides top quality education, of course. Students should not be expected to pay more for the bare-minimum facilities and resources that are offered at public-sector universities.
I, therefore, call upon the university administration to prioritise student welfare to profit and reconsider this uncalled for increase in fee. Education should be a right, not a privilege, and it is the responsibility of public sector institutions to provide affordable and quality education to all without any discrimination.
Sameen Shakeel
Karachi University student
