AIOU extends free course offer to more people

Prisoners, visually impaired and girl dropouts will be able to avail services

ISLAMABAD: Days after announcing free tuition for people who are transgender, the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) on Friday said it was expanding that offer to more marginalised segments of the society.

In a statement issued on Friday, the varsity said that they will be extending free enhanced educational services to prisoners, the visually impaired, female dropouts and members of the transgender community.

“It has been decided that scope of education for these categories will be further increased in order to bring them into the educational net and help them have a respectable life in the society,” the statement said. It added that the university will separately continue to provide scholarships and fee-waiver to students who are unable to afford their studies.

AIOU VC Dr Shahid Siddiqui hoped that the students falling under these categories can enroll themselves with for the new academic year.

He reminded that the last date for admission to this effect is October 10 with a nominal late-fee.

The vice-chancellor said that the AIOU has been providing free education from matriculation all the way to PhD level to the handicapped and visually impaired students and with jail inmates. Moreover, students are also provided with computerised facilities to aid their learning.

Talking about free education for people who are transgender, Siddiqui hoped that it will considerably improve the living standard of the transgender community.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7^th, 2017.