Students reject UAF’s fee hike, term decision unjust

University official claims fee was raised in view of financial crisis

FAISALABAD: Students of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF) have rejected increase in fee structure and termed the administration’s decision as unjust and arbitrary.

In a recent notification, the UAF increased the fee for all the undergraduate, postgraduate courses, boarding fee and other charges from 5% to 10% with effect from winter semester 2017-2018. The revised fee structure will be applicable to new entrants and existing students.



The increase would also applicable to the UAF sub-campuses and over 27,000 students will have to pay the tuition fee as per new rates. When contacted for comments, a number of students criticised the decision of the UAF administration to increase tuition fee and termed it unfair. They said the fee-hike would affect routine domestic affairs of the students as many will not be able to pay the increased amount.

Umar Cheema, a student of MSc Agriculture, expressed concern and dismay over fee-hike. He said, “Increase in tuition fee has become a permanent feature in the pretext of increase in salaries, pension and expenses.”

He added, “A number of students belong to the rural areas and hail from poverty ridden families.”

He said the UAF administration should devise a strategy to award need based and other scholarships to accommodate students belonging to oppressed and depressed classes. Another student Anis Ahmad also expressed reservations over the increase in fee and said, “It a serious blow to the underprivileged students who cannot bear expensive education.”

He added, “I paid Rs26,000 as tuition fee for second semester and now I have been asked to pay Rs29,000 for third semester. I belong to a working class and my father works as a foreman in a private mill and his salary is Rs18,000. I have eight brothers and sisters and of them, seven are studying.”

“I am worried how I will pay the increased tuition fee. Either my father has to withdraw one of my brothers or sisters from the college or ask me to arrange some source of income to share the expenses of the family,” he lamented with tears in his eyes.

Similarly, MBA student Shakil Ahmad told The Express Tribune, “The new fee structure has increased my worries. My parents cannot afford expensive education, therefore I am trying hard to find some source of income to finance my studies.”

Meanwhile, a university official claimed that fee hike was made keeping in view 10% increase in salaries of the employees which was announced by the government.

He added, “The raise in salaries has affected the financial matters of the university and created a number of issues, including inflation and other financial burden.”



While speaking to The Express Tribune, UAF Treasurer Umar Saeed said, “Fee rates of undergraduate programmes have been raised by 5% while for postgraduate the increase has been made 10%”.

He added, “PhD students will have to pay Rs100,000 per year. However, students without scholarship will be given a discount of Rs17,000 in the first year.”

Similarly, he maintained Rs34,000 discount will be given in subsequent years. Incentives may be given to brilliant students having 3.71 or more CGPA on completion of degrees. In reply to a question, Umar Saeed said, “UAF’s tuition fee structure is still the lowest as compared to other professional and general universities in the public sector.

The treasurer pointed out during 2015-2016, UAF had increased the tuition fee by 7.50% while the other public sectors universities increased the fee from 10% to 20%”.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3^rd, 2017.