PAKISTAN is a developing country. People are struggling in fulfilling their basic needs. Education, which is a basic right of every citizen, is getting expensive day by day. There are hundreds of public universities in Pakistan, but none offers any type of scholarship to students on a regular basis even though the fee is way beyond the capacity of the majority of those studying there.

It is mandatory for foreign scholarships to have passed specified tests. Many intelligent students have to drop the idea of applying for a foreign scholarship because of the high fees of these tests. The prime minister had announced postgraduate scholarships earlier this year, which sounded good, but the reality is not as good.

First, you have to get admission to any of the 25 universities named in the plan. Only then you can apply for a scholarship. How can a person from a middle-class family living in a deprived area apply for admission in a foreign university and sit the tests that require a huge amount?

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) should take into account the ground realities while forming its policies in order to facilitate the disadvantaged students in the real sense.

Usama Mushtaque
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.