Friends,
we know that University authority has hiked the fee of various courses.
The students of Panjab University now will have to pay 20 per cent more
for regular courses and 10 per cent more for self-financed courses from
the next academic session. The examination fee and Hostel charges have
also been increased. SFS submitted a memorandum to VC to protest against
the decision earlier and a chain hunger strike have been started on 24th Feb after the fee was increased.
Is the Hike justified? The authorities have been pushing through fee hike under the garb of rising deficit and many may find this argument justified. But we should understand this question in the socio-economic scenario of our society. The fees in various courses of PU are already much higher than many other universities in the region. In a country like ours, where majority of the population lives on bare subsistence wage and to expect them to afford such costly education is absurd. We often come across the argument that it is better education that can elevate a being from the evils of socio-economic backwardness, and most of us agree that it plays a good bit of role in it. PU is a government institution maintained for social welfare; and it is not a Corporation striving for profits. But now instead of pressing for more funds from the Govt., by increasing the fee, the authorities are defeating the very goal of university.
How it affects us? Some of us may be thinking that it doesn’t affect the current students. This statement is false in three senses:
1. Apart from course fee, examination fee and hostel charges have been increased that will affect all of us.
2. Most of us, who will join a new course in the next session, will find our fee increased, next year.
3. Last but most important is about, how much space the students have in the decision making of the university?
For long the decision of the university of have been arbitrary and anti-students, be it the hike in mess diet last year, fee hike in last session or playing partisan role in students’ election, using police force to curb democratic space etc.
Role of the students’ organizations: As we find that the situation is much worse than we generally think, we have seen little opposition of the hike from any student organization. Much worse is the fact that PUCSC, itself has agreed to the hike. (this is not the first time when the PUCSC has betrayed students as it has agreed to mess diet hike, rigging in Council Elections etc. in past). Apart from PUCSC, the Students’ Organizations’ have failed to protect the Students’ Rights in the Campus. The purpose of students’ politics is not only to stage helpdesk for the freshers and then organize trips but also to protect already ill-represented interests of students in the university administration.
But Friends, we have our rights and our duties, to fight for our own rights and for the students and society as well. Now, the time has come to step forward and protect our rights. So let us join hands in the ongoing struggle against the fee hike and reclaim what is ours…….. “THE EDUCATION”.
Is the Hike justified? The authorities have been pushing through fee hike under the garb of rising deficit and many may find this argument justified. But we should understand this question in the socio-economic scenario of our society. The fees in various courses of PU are already much higher than many other universities in the region. In a country like ours, where majority of the population lives on bare subsistence wage and to expect them to afford such costly education is absurd. We often come across the argument that it is better education that can elevate a being from the evils of socio-economic backwardness, and most of us agree that it plays a good bit of role in it. PU is a government institution maintained for social welfare; and it is not a Corporation striving for profits. But now instead of pressing for more funds from the Govt., by increasing the fee, the authorities are defeating the very goal of university.
How it affects us? Some of us may be thinking that it doesn’t affect the current students. This statement is false in three senses:
1. Apart from course fee, examination fee and hostel charges have been increased that will affect all of us.
2. Most of us, who will join a new course in the next session, will find our fee increased, next year.
3. Last but most important is about, how much space the students have in the decision making of the university?
For long the decision of the university of have been arbitrary and anti-students, be it the hike in mess diet last year, fee hike in last session or playing partisan role in students’ election, using police force to curb democratic space etc.
Role of the students’ organizations: As we find that the situation is much worse than we generally think, we have seen little opposition of the hike from any student organization. Much worse is the fact that PUCSC, itself has agreed to the hike. (this is not the first time when the PUCSC has betrayed students as it has agreed to mess diet hike, rigging in Council Elections etc. in past). Apart from PUCSC, the Students’ Organizations’ have failed to protect the Students’ Rights in the Campus. The purpose of students’ politics is not only to stage helpdesk for the freshers and then organize trips but also to protect already ill-represented interests of students in the university administration.
But Friends, we have our rights and our duties, to fight for our own rights and for the students and society as well. Now, the time has come to step forward and protect our rights. So let us join hands in the ongoing struggle against the fee hike and reclaim what is ours…….. “THE EDUCATION”.