UoP issues notification agreeing to students’ demands

Students to get better transport facility next week

PESHAWAR: Two days after students of the University of Peshawar started a sit-in outside the varsity’s administration offices to protest against a hike in fees and other issues, the university administration issued a notification acquiescing to their demands.

A spokesperson for the university said that the students had put forth 14 demands including reversal of the 10 per cent hike in tuition fee, improvement of facilities at the hostel, transport facility, problems of drop out students and the plea for the research grant.

To this end, the spokesperson said that the matter of withdrawing increase in tuition fee will be presented before syndicate during its upcoming meeting scheduled to be held next week for ‘sympathetic consideration’.

Moreover, the spokesperson said that while the departmental private fund has been merged with an admission fee, any additional amount charged by the head of any department, the matter will be taken up by the respective deans. Wherever applicable, the amount will be adjusted in future semester’s or a refund would be arranged.

Transport facility, the spokesperson said, will begin for day scholars from next week, while the present intra-campus transport facility to be made more accessible.

As far as the allocation for a research grant for research scholars is concerned, the matter is to be taken up vigorously with the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

Further, steps are being taken for extending scholarships to the needy. Moreover, the provincial and the federal government will also be requested in this regard.

Regarding the fee issue of students from affected areas of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), the matter will be immediately taken up with the HEC. The matter of drop out students would be looked into by a committee and dealt with as per rules on compassionate grounds.

The spokesperson further stated that certain demands like the announcement of students’ endowment fund, the election of the students union may be taken up with the provincial government for an amicable solution. While demands like registration of Masters and (BS Hons) education vis a vis decision regarding discontinuation of B.A and Master’s Degree Programs by HEC is to be taken up with the Higher Education Commission by the University.

He resolved that varsity administration will ensure that renovation work in the hostels is done as per contract agreement and no payment will be made to the concerned contractors till the civil work comes up to the required benchmark.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1^st, 2017.