Karachi University students’ future in limbo as teachers’ exam boycott drags on

• Fee structure is on par with private universities but facilities are nowhere near the same standard, laments a student • Kuts admits students are suffering, holds ‘bad administration’ responsible for their woes • Students wonder why CM, Sindh govt remain silent spectators to crisis at country’s largest university KARACHI: Nearly 50,000 students at the country’s largest university have been left in limbo as the teachers’ boycott of semester examinations over what they claimed unpaid dues enters its fourth week, disrupting academic plans and causing growing anxiety among students and their parents. With no clear timeline for the resumption of exams, many students are fearing further delays to the academic calendar, shortened semesters and the loss of their semester break. Lack of response from the provincial government, especially from the chief minister who is the controlling authority of all public sector universities across Sindh, to resolve the dispute has also been criticised. The KU teachers have been boycotting the semester exams since May 5 over non-payment of their dues for evening classes, copy checking, exam supervision, paper setting, exam vigilance, house ceiling and leave encashment among other things. They have called for an investigation into the financial crisis at the campus and refuse to end the strike until the fulfilment of their demands. However, the prolonged boycott has put students under increased stress and frustration. “I don’t want to continue further studies at KU anymore. I’m so fed up with this broken system,” a frustrated student told Dawn. He said he paid his fees on time but never got any facilities accordingly. Similarly, a first-year student from the Department of International Relations said, “It’s my first semester at KU. I am still learning how the system works and adapting to university life. I prepared extensively for the exams, studying day and night, only to have them cancelled unexpectedly. My biggest con...

Original source: Dawn Pakistan