EVERY year a handful of government-run medical colleges offer a limited number of seats for pursuing studies in medicine. Thousands of students vie for a slot and remain disappointed.

The rich then approach private medical colleges, offering education on a self-finance basis.

The sufferers are those students who are left out with only a slim margin and mostly belong to the middle class and cannot afford the self-financing scheme.

Some, however, do venture but finally land into trouble as these colleges raises fee annually. The limit of increase, as I understand, is five per cent but never adhered to by colleges.

This year colleges have sent notices for a 10 per cent increase in fee structure, barring a few who are satisfied with five per cent increase. The increase runs in the thousands of rupees, which a middle class person can hardly meet, thus jeopardising the plans of students who some times have to discontinue their studies.

This is injustice to talented youths who, if given a chance, attain the highest standard of education.

My son could not get admission to government-run media college as he was short of two marks to qualify on merit.

However, he is studying in one such college on the basis of a self-finance scheme.

Now I have received a notice for a 10 per cent increase in the fee. This has taken away my sleep.

I request the Governor of Sindh and other authorities concerned to take cognizance of these facts to bring an end to such arbitrary increase in the fee structure each year and save the future of hundreds of students in these private medical colleges.

I hope that the people in power may find some time to address this burning issue.

SHAUKAT AWAN Karachi