THE start of this week brought me disturbing news. I reached the Department of Life Sciences in Islamic University of Bahawalpur where I am a student, to find a Rs18,000 fee charge-sheet awaiting me with a day left in the deadline.

I could well imagine the quandary my parents would have to face due to the short notice and I shuddered at the thought that they might reconsider their decision of allowing me to acquire higher education and not send me to university at all.

As I am a student under the semester system, I am reluctant to raise this issue as I fear some department officials might get upset and direct their ire towards me.

Belonging to a middle-class family, I am finding it difficult to continue my studies because my parents can’t afford to meet such heavy financial expenses. I therefore, request the prime minister to add BS programmes to the PM’s Fee Reimbursement Scheme for Less Developed Areas or to reduce the fees for students that hail from backward areas.

F. M. Azra

(A BS student)

Bahawalpur

Published in Dawn March 5th , 2015

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