PU mulls 10% increase in fee for private candidates.

LAHORE -- The Punjab University has decided to increase the registration and examination fees for external candidates by 10 per cent to overcome a financial crisis caused by a cut in the Higher Education Commission's (HEC) funding by the government in the annual budget.

According to university sources, the large public sector higher education institutions in the province are contemplating a fee hike to run the academic affairs after the reduction in HEC funding.

On the other hand, the students who mostly opt for appearing in exams as private candidates because of financial constraints complained that the decision would increase their hardship during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Punjab University recently announced fee relaxation for its regular students, but the likely reduction in funds from the HEC has forced it to increase the charges for external candidates.

The PU is the biggest university of the province and thousands of candidates appear in its bachelors and masters examinations every year.

Thousands of youth in the province who cannot afford to get admission in the university due to financial and other constraints register as private candidates to continue their education.

A large number of girls from poor families in villages and remote areas of Punjab are among the private students of the university.

A university official told The Express Tribune that the decision to increase the fees for external candidates was likely to be implemented this year.

"The university is in a financial crisis as it announced relaxation for its regular students and now we have to maintain our academic services, so the private candidates have to give sacrifice. Beside the increase in the fee, overtime, lunch and other allowances for teachers during exams from the university funds may be stopped.'

The official said the university was...