NUML students stage protest against conducting on-campus exams.

Byline: Rahul Basharat

ISLAMABAD -- Scores of National University of Modern Languages (NUML) students on Monday protested against conducting on campus examinations and also demanded concession in semester fee.

Dozens of students from different semesters gathered outside the university and protested against administration for announcing on campus exams of the students.

Students staging protests against the university administration claimed that students studied all semester online while administration is now taking examinations calling students physically on campus. Students also said that despite learning online the university took full tuition fee, hostel and transportation charges, while providing no compensation in availing online classes.

A student Muhammad Ahmed said that students took all financial burden while taking online classes and paid complete dues to the university.

'If we studied online then university should also conduct exams online as well,' he said.

Another student Nimra Khan said that students stayed at homes during the semester and charging full fee from them was an unjustified step by the university.

'University should refund half of the tuition and full fee of hostel and transportation to the students,' she said.

Students in large numbers held severe sloganeering against university administration and closed the road. They also claimed that the administration also changed the date-sheet of exams multiple times and was now asking students to physically appear in exams. Public Relations Officer NUML Muhammad Bilal talking to The Nation said that university administration held talks with students and both sides agreed to the decisions.

He said that university administration will only charge hostel and transportation fee from the students upto the limit they have availed the facility, while the rest of the amount will be refunded to them.

Muhammad Bilal also said that the government has announced opening of the universities from February 1st, so exams will be conducted on campus and students agreed on it.

He also said that students in talks did not demand half refund in tuition fee. He also added that there was less number of NUML students in the protest and more were from other universities.

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