WHEN the Prime Minister’s Fee Reimbursement Scheme (PMFRS) was launched to benefit students from less developed districts it was at a time when thousands from under-privileged communities, particularly from the interior of Sindh, had already received admission to post-graduate studies at the University of Sindh in Jamshoro in 2017. Among them many had already paid their tuition fees for the first academic year starting Jan. 2017.

It was after that that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) had announced the PMFRS for the year 2017-18. Wanting to avail themselves of this opportunity, many postgraduate students from the University of Sindh registered for this scheme submitting required pro forma, including bank account details and educational documents, to the university’s financial aid office. Although the HEC has sanctioned tuition fees to the University of Sindh, these payments have not been received by students who have enrolled in the scheme.

Due to the failure of the university to reimburse tuition fees, the majority find it hard to continue with their post-graduate studies. The authorities concerned are requested to solve this issue as soon as possible so that deserving students who are unable to afford higher education can pay tuition fees for their second year of study rather than drop out due.

Imtiaz Junejo

Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2018