PESHAWAR: Students of various educational institutions on Saturday protested online classes and demanded of the Higher Education Commission to review its decision.

They feared that many students won’t be able to participate in the classes due to lack of internet access mainly in remote districts.

Holding banners and placards outside the Peshawar Press Club, the students’ representatives, including Babar Fayaz Khalil and Faraz Khan belonging to People’s Students Federation, said online classes were impossible in the newly-merged districts due to non-availability of internet service. They pointed out that prolonged power cuts was also a big issue.

They feared that the ‘forced’ online classes might deprive many students of being unable to participate in examinations. They pointed out that the worst-affected would be the female students.

Besides, the students also demanded of the government to waive off fee of at least one semester as their parents were facing financial problems.

They suggested that the government should open the universities to resume regular classes under tight SOPs.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2020