ADVANCE FEE: Parents are increasingly speaking out against private schools demanding fee in advance for the June-July summer vacations. Despite clear rules that fee should follow the proper billing cycle and not be collected in advance, some schools are still reportedly forcing early payments. This places serious financial pressure on families as managing extra fee within the same month becomes overwhelming. Many describe the charges as unjust and poorly explained. These actions are being seen as a direct violation of government fee policies, prompting demands for strict enforcement to stop unfair practices and protect families.

Shumaila Chandio
Karachi

EXHAUSTED STUDENTS: I experienced a distressing situation while attempting my intermediate board examination at the Government Girls Degree College in Turbat. Sitting for three hours in a suffocating hall without fans left me and other students completely exhausted. Instead of concentrating on our exam, we kept struggling to somehow survive the unbearable weather. It is alarming that the exam centre lacked even basic facilities, like an electricity backup system, forcing the students to endure severe heat during crucial exams.

Zeebjan Akther
Turbat

ROAD TO NOWHERE: The main road of Jamshoro is a point of collision where slow-moving university buses, student motorcycles and rickshaws merge directly with heavy trucks and intercity coaches coming off the Indus and M-9 highways. These heavy vehicles thunder through what should be a protected academic zone, with zero regard for anyone’s safety. There is no signage telling drivers to slow down, and there are no proper U-turns to help the huge campus buses turn safely. It is an irony that a district tasked with producing the nation’s scientists, engi-neers, doctors and artists is forced to navigate dangers every day. This corridor requires a dedicated university zone plan: fresh surfacing, safe U-turns, protected pedestrian paths, and speed enforcement.

Dr. Faheemullah Shaikh
Jamshoro

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026