A number of student organizations on Wednesday staged a demonstration demanding restoration of student unions and reduction in fees of all educational institutes in the province.
Activists belonging to the People’s Student Federation (PSF), Progressive Students Collective (PSC), Baloch Council, Pakhtun Council, Seraiki Council, Punjabi Council, Gilgit Baltistan Students, and other organisations participated in the demo held at the Charing Cross on The Mall.
The activists were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans demanding revival of student unions and reduction in fees.
During the demo, a group of students also performed a skit on different social issues that was lauded by other participants.
The students demands include revival of unions, withdrawal of an affidavit they are asked to sign at the time of admission, pledging to stay away from political activities, free health facility, 50 percent concession in transport fares on student cards and anti-harassment committees with equal membership of female students.
They also demanded release of all the student activists and teachers subjected to forced disappearances all over the country, including Sohail Baloch and Faseeh Baloch, withdrawing Rangers and Frontier Constabulary (FC) from all educational institutes, inclusion of third gender category in admission forms to ensure implementation of Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018, establishment of universities, including Baba Fareed University in Pakpattan and withdrawal of the recent increase in fees.
They further demanded the reduction in the Higher Education Commission (HEC) budget should be reversed and five percent increase in education budget annually.
They demanded that Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar should fulfill his promise of giving scholarships to the students of FATA and Balochistan and revive 265 seats for the students from these areas in Islamabad.
Over the years, the closure of what were once vibrant nurseries of democracy has weakened the political culture. Student-led activities and representation helped educated youth interact, share ideas and develop intellectually, socially and academically in preparation for their future leadership role. Many seasoned politicians today learned their skills on campuses brimming with ideas and activities. But the ban created a political vacuum and is partially responsible for the present crisis of governance and democratic culture that we see in the country today.
In fact, the ban rapidly led to the politicisation of educational institutions as the student wings of political parties pushed their own agendas. These wings have emerged as the chief stakeholders in students’ grievances at public universities. What was a move to ostensibly prevent violence on campus has backfired, with a clash of ideologies taking a lethal turn in universities and different political groups fighting each other to retain their illicit influence on academic and administrative activities.
