Students protest 'faulty' online system, charging of fee by varsities.

Byline: Kashif Abbasi

ISLAMABAD -- Students from various universities on Monday staged a protest demonstration outside the Higher Education Commission (HEC) against what they said a faulty online system and charging of full fee by universities.

The protesting students demanded the HEC bound the universities not to charge full fee during the closure of the universities and take only the tuition fee. They said when universities were closed there was no justification for asking the students to pay their hostel, lab, library and transport fees. They said thousands of students had been facing the internet connectivity issue in far-flung and hilly areas but the HEC and universities were adamant to continue online classes.

'There is always a second option but you don't have the will and sympathy to solve students' problems,' read a placard held by a student of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU).

'Don't play with our future,' read another placard.

Say students are facing connectivity issues but HEC and universities are adamant on continuing online classes

'At a time when we are opposing online classes, universities are all set to take online examinations. This step is unacceptable to us as in some areas students still have no power supply what to talk of internet connections,' said Asad bin Azam, another protesting student.

Holding a placard, the students raised slogans in favour of their demands.

They said the HEC should make internet connectivity accessible to all students. They said on Monday in various cities students simultaneously staged protest demonstrations against the HEC and universities.

HEC officials held a meeting with representatives of the students at the HEC headquarters and, according to the students, assured them that the commission would look into the genuine issues of the students.

One of the students, who also attended the meeting, said HEC assured the students that their issues would be solved but insisted that exams cannot be cancelled.

The road outside HEC remained closed for a few hours while police were present on the spot to handle any untoward situation.

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