Progressive Students Collective organized a one-day Tulba Baithak at the Research and Publications Centre, Lahore, to discuss the issues faced by students on campuses, their possible solutions, and the way forward.
According to reports, students from various universities in Lahore, along with political workers from NSF, PRSF, RCP, Pak Palestine Forum, Aurat March, PSF, and members of civil society, joined the baithak. During the session, participants discussed a number of problems they face on campus daily, along with the role and benefits of student politics. Additional issues discussed included the privatization of educational institutions; depoliticization and fear among students; disconnection from other political organizations; the treatment of workers within universities; the lack of access to education for third gender individuals due to their identity, and their right to education; and the situation of the Waziristan Girls School and other educational institutions affected by military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, KP.
The problems discussed at the baithak included how academic quality in public universities is declining, and how research conducted at universities is often of extremely low quality. One participant also highlighted that, at the time of admission, students are required to sign an affidavit barring their participation in student politics, a requirement that is unconstitutional, and noted that while academic staff unions are permitted on campuses, student unions remain banned.
There was a consensus among the various organizations present at the baithak that a collective student movement is the need of the hour, and that further meetings should be organized so that united action can be planned and taken. Participants referenced the active role students played in the movements in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. They also discussed the role of the so-called Youth Parliament, describing it as a critical issue for students since it diverts them from genuine political engagement.
The session concluded with remarks from Ali Abdullah Khan, President of the Progressive Students Collective, who spoke in detail about the condition of the student movement in Pakistan. He also expressed solidarity with incarcerated student political activist Umar Khalid, describing him as an inspiration for student political workers around the world.
At the end of the session, a charter of demands was presented, which included the restoration of student unions, the establishment of anti-harassment committees in all educational institutions, the abolition of the mandatory affidavit requirement at the time of admission, an end to the securitization of educational institutions, the release of all political prisoners, the allocation of 10% of total GDP to education, the establishment of universities in marginalized areas of Pakistan, and the provision of transport subsidies for students, among other demands.
Speaking to the TSH, Secretary General PSC, Eqbal Khan said “there is a huge gap between the education being provided at the campuses and what actually should be provided and this gap gets even worse because there are no student unions which can challenge the university admin for their corrupt practices, so such collective discussion spaces is the need of the moment as these dialogues can pave the way for a collective action for the attainment of our rights.
