The demonstrators felt they were being victimised and defrauded.
Protesting outside the Lahore Press Club, the students said they had deposited millions in fees and were now being denied degrees or transcripts. They added the provincial and federal higher education commissions (HECs) had doubts over the legality of the institute.
The participants stressed they had invested much time and money, but were now left with no other choice, but to start an agitation.
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Asad Islam, a protester, said he had studied for five semesters and was given a story by the institute on various occasions. The student claimed the management had told him transcripts would be issued and there was no need for concern. “Furthermore, the HECs declared the institute illegal, but the administration insisted that matters were being clarified and authorities would verify the degrees. However, both the provincial and federal HECs declared the institute as illegal. Now we are stuck,” he said.
Muhammad Shakeel, another student, said they were being swindled by the management. He alleged the administration was now threatening students, telling them no degrees would be issued unless fees were paid.
“The HEC has clearly declared the institute illegal, but the management is asking us to continue paying the fee. We are stuck in a predicament,” he said. Shakeel also critcised the provincial and federal HECs. “If the institute was illegal, how was it allowed to continue taking in students for more than two years?”
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The protesters demanded that the HECs look into the matter and take necessary action against the administration.
At the start of the year, the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) announced that a monitoring and evaluation subcommittee visited Global Institute Lahore on January 11, 2017 after students complained about the status of degrees.
“The institution was found compromising on essentials such as faculty, teaching/learning environment, students facilities, laboratories, library and required management structure,” the committee declared. It added all these aspects fell below the the minimum required standards and criteria.
“The committee also noticed that Global Institute Lahore is operating multiple affiliated/franchised campuses, which are illegal as no such approval was sought from any regulatory body. The management of Global Institute Lahore informed the subcommittee that sub-campuses are being de-affiliated immediately, but no evidence was presented”.
Similarly, the federal HEC, in late 2016, also declared the institute as illegal. It issued an advisory to parents and students not to take admission.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 4th, 2017.
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