THE Sindh Agriculture University has told its students to pay the semester fees by Aug 3. The nation will be busy with Eidul Azha from July 30 onwards and Eid in Pakistan will be celebrated on Aug 1. This directive seems unjust considering the above.

That is not all. Almost 90 per cent of SAU students belong to very poor families. Most of them rely on HEC and PEF scholarships to pursue their education. The federal and provincial governments have suspended the payment of scholarships owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The campus administration has added to students’ financial worries by demanding additional fees to hold online exams. Hundreds of students could not arrange for money to sit online exams and could not appear.

The Sindh chief minister and higher education authorities should take action.

Anees Lateef

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2020