Student Unions Should Be Revived To Address On-Campus Radicalism: Experts.

Majority of the speakers at a consultation called for revival of student unions, with certain regulations, in the educational institutions of the country to discourage prevalent religious and ethnic radicalism at the campuses.

The experts also said that the government should adopt student-centric policies that promote critical thinking and healthy intellectual discourse among them to bring productive youth out of educational campuses.

Lawmakers, academicians, religious scholars, students, journalists, human rights activists, and representatives of civil society participated in the consultation on 'Promoting Narratives of Diversity, Inclusion, and Peace among Youth' organised by Islamabad-based Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS).

The panellists were of the view that youth in Pakistan figure poorly on state's policies and urged the need to end violence at campuses by educating youth about citizenship, democracy, and Constitution, and promoting open debate among them.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Romina Khurshid Alam speaking at a session said that citizenship should be taught at school level. 'I believe in the concept of social cohesion,' she said and added, 'Constitution gives equal rights to every citizen.' She further said that even the concept of minorities was an expression of social dissection.

SAPM Romina said that the teacher training was the basic thing which was missing in their education system.

Senator Walid Iqbal, Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights, regretted that the present electoral system in the country discouraged new political entrants and limited political representations only through dynasties and patronage. He underlined that the political parties should award tickets to youth and new entrants. Stressing the need to revive student unions, Senator Walid quoted a past resolution of the Senate Committee of the Whole which had called for an end to the ban on student unions.

Member of National Assembly Saira Bano said that Pakistani youth were confused and there was a need to develop a sense of confidence among them. She suggested that the students should be taught and trained in such a way that they could decide about their future on their own.

Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy, physicist and educationist, emphasised on the need to...