HYDERABAD, July 25: The leaders of the Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Students Federation (STPSF) have criticized the hundred per cent increase in admission and certificate fees by the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Hyderabad, terming it an anti-education step.

In a joint statement issued here on Thursday, STPSF president Qadir Channa, vice-president Akhtar Samoon and other office- bearers of the Federation said universities had already increased admission fees manifold and had closed the doors of higher education for poor students and now colleges had also increased admission fees from Rs960 to Rs2,060.

They said some 95 per cent of the students would be forced to drop out after matriculation due to the inordinate increase in the fees.

They pointed out that in all the civilized countries, maximum budgetary allocation was made for education but in Pakistan only rich people could get higher education.

The STPSF leaders demanded of the government to withdraw the anti-education policies otherwise, they warned, the Federation would launch a province-wide protest movement and also besiege the Hyderabad Board.

BISE: The controller of examinations, Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Hyderabad, announced here on Wednesday that the last date for accepting enrolment forms from regular students and registration forms from private students for appearing at SSC (part-I) annual examination of 2003 had been extended up to Sept 3, 2002.