I COMPLETED my BSc and MA degrees in 2012 and 2015, respectively. A few days ago, I decided to apply for my degree certificates. Since I knew that the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, was charging a fee of about Rs1,300 for issuing a degree certificate in February 2020, I went there with Rs3,000 in my pocket to start the procedure to collect my two degrees.

When I approached the department concerned, I was shocked to learn that the university administration had increased the fees to Rs3,000 per certificate. This works out to be an increase of more than 130 per cent. One wonders what is the justification for this steep increase as degree certificates are not inscribed on paper made out of silver and inscribed with ink made out of gold.

If Pakistan is to progress, there is a need to ensure that quality education is available to all citizens at an affordable cost. Higher education, in fact, should be subsidised for students who are brilliant, but do not have the financial resources to pursue their academic dreams. The government needs to look into the university’s steeply increasing charges.

Fayaz Rustamani

Khairpur Mir’s

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2021