Peshawar High Court Raises Alarm Over Education Crisis in KP

Chief Justice SM Attique Shah of the Peshawar High Court has sounded the alarm over the deteriorating state of higher education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The chief justice expressed grave concern that the province's education system is on the brink of collapse, with numerous high-achieving students unable to afford university fees.

This alarming situation came to light during a court hearing involving over 90 University of Peshawar (UoP) students who had received scholarships from the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The counsel representing the students, Khalid Rehman, informed the court that the university had yet to disburse the scholarship amounts, despite a previous decision by the PHC in their favor.

The University of Peshawar's Assistant Registrar, Riaz Ali Khan, requested additional time to resolve the matter, citing a deficit of over Rs. 2 billion. He further revealed that the salaries for the previous month had been paid on the 16th, but funds for the current month's salaries were unavailable. The chief justice pointed out that despite students securing high marks, they are being denied admission due to the exorbitant semester fees that their families cannot afford.

Furthermore, the chief justice expressed his apprehension over the state of UoP, remarking that it is distressing to see one of the province's oldest universities failing to manage its affairs effectively. He also drew attention to the issue of university-owned land being rented out at low rates and the closure of several departments due to dwindling student enrollment.

The chief justice emphasized the urgent need for a permanent solution, warning that governments will continue to struggle with financial constraints, and stressed the importance of addressing university fees to safeguard the future of young people. The court ordered the UoP administration to resolve the scholarship issue, issued a notice to the HEC, and adjourned the hearing.