LAHORE, Feb 21: While high costs of private education have long put such learning beyond the reach of most citizens, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) says there is growing evidence that in a quest to earn more profits, public sector-education is to be reserved only for the wealthy.

In a statement on Monday, the HRCP said it had received a number of complaints from students and their parents at institutions of higher education of sudden hikes in tuition fees and other charges with no explanation or prior warning.

"These complaints have also come from those attending classes at public sector institutions. Colleges recently granted autonomy meanwhile now charge exorbitant annual fees while there is only limited evidence of any dramatic improvement in academic standards."

The most recent complaints concern a rise in fees for the postgraduate diploma in public administration at the University of Karachi, the HRCP statement said. It added students had stated that fees for evening classes had been pushed up from Rs8,000 to Rs24,000 without giving any explanation for this. "Sadly, it would appear senior university officials are reluctant even to meet students to discuss the issue."

The HRCP reiterated that education was a basic right of every citizen and it was the primary duty of the state to ensure it was provided (to everyone) without discrimination.

"The unfortunate tendency to abdicate from educational responsibility is depriving more and more people of an opportunity to acquire learning. This trend must be brought to an end.

The education sector must be seen in light of the pressing national need for literacy and quality learning at all levels rather than as a means to earn profit, and a system should be put in place to ensure checks on charges imposed by institutions in both the public and private sector."