MANSEHRA, Nov 17: Parents of the students who were awarded scholarships at medical universities in Cuba have complained that their children are not being provided with proper lodging and boarding facilities, and that the degrees offered are below par and not acceptable even in Pakistan.

They called for better facilities and demanded that the degrees offered should be equivalent to MBBS and recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO). They alleged that contrary to their written scholarship agreement, students were being taught courses that were equal to or slightly better than the dispenser courses taught in the country.

The government of Cuba had announced 1,000 scholarships for Pakistani medial students in the aftermath of the Oct 8, 2005, quake tragedy and the first batch comprising 368 students left for Cuba in the first quarter of 2007.

Sources said that around 20 students came back to Pakistan, while 184 others who were due to leave for Cuba have refused the scholarships.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, father of a student, Zaheer Ahmad said that his son left for Cuba after qualifying all examinations of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) on the 20 per cent quota reserved for quake-hit areas.

He pointed out the scholarship document stated that the Cuban government would admit the students in leading medical schools and their degrees would be recognised by the WHO. But, he said, the students were given admission to an institution which was not recognised by the WHO.

He complained that as many as nine students were being forced to live in a single room. He said the students were given only rice and fish to eat as a result of which many had fallen ill.

Nazeer Ahmad, convener of parents committee of the students, said the students were given only 30 euros each as monthly stipend which, he claimed, was insufficient to meet daily expenses.

He announced that a meeting of the students’ parents would be convened in the HEC in Islamabad on November 20 to decide the future line of action.