The students in Turbat have been protesting for three straight days against the fee hikes at the University of Turbat. The protest began when students gathered in front of the university’s main gate for a sit-in. Parents have also joined the students in their protest, demanding that their demands be fulfilled.
The parents at the sit-in told The Balochistan Post that the tuition fee has increased from 16,000 to 24,000. They said that we embroider and sell clothes to educate our children. We can’t afford such an unreasonable and extortionate fee hike.
The students said that they will not end their protest until the university backs off on its decision to increase the tuition fees. The students said that the hostel accommodation and transport fees have also jumped up, and it has become difficult for them to continue their studies.
The students said that the university’s fee structure is skewed – there are no labs in several departments, and yet the students are asked to pay a lab fee as well.
They said that the university administration had switched the main gate lights off and tried persuading our companions to end the protest, but we will not budge until our demands are met.
The students said that the university is adamant about its decision to raise the tuition fee. They said that we have been protesting for three days, but the university has not expressed sympathy with our cause nor sent any representative to negotiate with us.
The students said that we have collectively decided to boycott all classes until the university administration settles for negotiations.
The students said the Law Department fee is 30,800, the Education department fee has increased from 11,000 to 21,3000 and the Balochi language department has increased to 20,000 from the previous 11,000.
The students said that the university is not distributing scholarships fairly. The Ehsaas, BEEF and other scholarship programs are handed out on basis of favouritism.
They further said that if the university curbs its unnecessary spending and puts checks against corruption, it can war off the looming economic crisis. Raising tuition fees to meet the unnecessary demands of administration is unfair, they said.
The students said that we had presented a list of our demands to the university vice-chancellor, but he rejected them, citing the lack of funding from HEC, the economic crisis that the university faces and the rapid inflation. They said that we will not end our protest until the university administration agrees to meet our demands.
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