September 11, 2002	Wednesday	Rajab 3, 1423

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PESHAWAR, Sept 10: The Islami Jamiat Tulaba has decided to launch a province-wide movement along with other students and teachers organizations against the proposed policy of the government to privatize government-owned educational institutions throughout the country.

This was stated by the IJT Nazim of NWFP, Shahab Hussain, during a press conference here at the Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday.

Flanked by other IJT leaders Waqas Ahmad Khan, Ubaidur Rehman and Sohail Ahmad, the Nazim said that the government had made a plan in May 2001 to privatize the government educational institutions and for that purpose it made a 15-member task force.

“But there are only three education experts in the task force and the rest are businessmen, who have more interest in making money through these institutions than providing good and cheap education to the poor students,” he remarked.

He divulged that last year the task force had furnished its recommendations to the government, which was expected to be implemented from January 2003.

“The task force, which is meant for the promotion of higher education, is nothing but an eyewash to cheat the poor masses,” he blamed.

According to the task force recommendations, from January 2003 the recruitment in the universities and colleges would be made on contract basis. The bachelor degree would be made a four-year course instead of the prevailing two-year system. And 10 per cent annual rise in the education fees is also recommended by the task force, he informed.

“The government wants to make the education for the poor masses difficult. If the recommendations were implemented, all the poor students would work in the evening to earn for their fees,” he opined.

He also condemned the police baton-charge on the student in Karachi who were protesting against the privatization of educational institutions.