I AM a student at the Institute of Education and Research, University of Punjab, doing MEd Elementary (one-year programme) in the morning session of 2013-14.

A few days ago the staff said that students of one-year programme would not be given laptops being provided through the prime minister’s laptop scheme.

We will be awarded a degree of 16 years of education with thesis/research study as mandatory. Its completion makes us eligible for getting admission to MPhil programme as well.

The meritorious candidates are in dire need of laptops as research cannot be carried out without the Internet. Above all, the Higher Education Commission criterion for the laptop scheme declares one-year programme students eligible (i.e. morning/evening session) for laptops.

I request the prime minister to take notice of this negligence and make sure we are given laptops.

Saima Tasneem
Lahore

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2014