Street power becomes an arbiter on disputes when all other resolution forums become exclusionary and are completely defanged. This is perhaps one reason why we find hundreds of students taking to the streets across the country, including some just a stone’s throw from the Prime Minister House in the federal capital, demanding that the recently held National Medical and Dental Colleges Admissions Test (NMDCAT), conducted by the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) through a third-party testing service, are re-conducted due to alleged irregularities. Instead of being engaged in constructive conversations and facilitated to return to their classes, the students find themselves in holding cells.
The government has strived for years to digitise and standardise tests as it ultimately seeks to become the sole arbiter of merit for admission to public and private colleges. But the entry tests have largely suffered a host of issues like question papers being leaked and carrying erroneous questions as well as other irregularities. The digitally conducted NDMCAT is no exception.
While there were talks between representatives of the PMC and students, the matter remains deadlocked. It is unfortunate that there remains an attitude that authorities, institutions or regulators are supreme beings and can do no wrong. In the absence of empowered dispute resolution forums, our political entities have shown that street power is the best recourse to arm-twist authorities. The government has not covered itself in glory by resorting to the use of force. As a result, student protesters have been baton-charged and even booked for terrorism just for demanding to be heard.
In a country with a massive youth bulge, the youth require careful guidance to grow into productive members of society. How do we expect them to excel in studies or be motivated to over-achieve if they feel a blade is constantly hanging over their heads, ready to drop at the first misstep? If students continue to feel boxed in with no locally available outlet, the only logical reaction they will have is to rebel against the authorities while seeking escape to where they are not as shackled.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2021.
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