KARACHI, Nov 4: The federal government is working on a plan to lower the fee structure for foreign students studying in Pakistani universities and educational institutions, it is learnt.
The fee structure is being revised by the ministry of education in the light of a recent directive by President Pervez Musharraf.
Sources said the President had in the recent past issued directives that fee structure for foreign students be appropriately reduced to a realistic level to encourage enrolment in the country’s universities.
The University Grants Commission has asked the universities and institutions in its jurisdiction to suggest a revised fee structure for foreign students in the light of CE’s approved guidelines and intimate the UGC immediately.
The education ministry had revised the fee only twice for foreign students during the last two decades. Under a policy of the ministry, five per cent of the total seats are initially reserved for foreign students for a period of 45 days from the last date of receiving applications in a particular academic session in all universities subject to availability of hostel facilities, and if aspirants do not apply, these are filled with local students.
The ministry had fixed an annual tuition fee between Rs50,000 and Rs450,000 for foreigners studying at different levels of professional and general study in 1997.
The fee rates are as follows: BA/BSc Rs50,000; MA/Arts, education, law/MPhil/PhD Rs50,000; MBA/Computer Rs60,000; MSc/MPhil/PhD, all science subjects Rs70,000; engineering Rs350,000 (US$9000); agriculture Rs100,000 (US$2500) and medicine/dentistry Rs450,000 (US$11000).
A survey of the public universities in the city revealed that the foreign students were being charged less than what was prescribed by the education ministry in October 1997.
The NED University has devised its own system of charging fee from students, including foreign students. The system, sources said, has been approved by the statutory bodies of the university.
Last time tuition fee for foreign students was enhanced in 1998. An amount of Rs56,000 has been fixed for first year, and Rs18,000 each for second, third and final year per head which is presently being charged from foreign students, who numbered around 12.
In the case of the University of Karachi, where 54 students are enrolled as regular students, the fee structure of 1997 is applicable, but at the same time authorities also adhere to an order of the education ministry issued in 1988 in which the university was asked to give special concessions to students belonging to some 30 countries.
According to the education ministry list, students from Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Palestine, Lebanon, Thailand, Philippine, South Africa, Yemen Arab Republic, Nepal and Bangladesh are entitled of a 100 per cent exemption, but liable to pay fee at par with local students. Students coming from Iran, Iraq, Sri-Lanka and diplomats and their children could be given an exemption of 75 per cent, while students from Turkey, Jordan, Morocco, Egypt, Syria, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nigeria, Kenya, USA, Australia and Germany are entitled of a 50 per cent exemption in fee prescribed by the education ministry, added the source.
It was further learnt that some years back, the ministry had informed the university about withdrawal of exemption, but the instructions could not be implemented as another letter was received by the university asking again for concessions in some cases. It was deemed better to strict to the 1988 list of countries allowed exemption in fee as the fresh orders were more confusing on the subject of tuition fee of foreign students, said sources in the varsity.
