Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood, on Friday, took notice of the 41 per cent fee hike by Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), and urged the management to reconsider its decision.
Shafqat Mahmood took to social media, terming the 41 per cent fee hike as ‘unacceptable’, urging the university’s administration to revise its decision.
“I have seen reports that LUMS has increased its fee by 41%. If true, this is unacceptable. LUMS is a premier educational institution of the country and needs to take lead in giving relief to students rather than burdening them and their parents even further,” he tweeted.
The federal minister also highlighted the fact that Supreme Court of Pakistan has only permitted a 5-8 per cent increase school fee.
“Universities may have different compulsions and may need a somewhat greater increase but a sudden 41% increase by LUMS is beyond comprehension,” he noted.
It is pertinent to know that, last week LUMS administration announced an increase of 41 per cent in the annual fee.
Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)
Expressing his views and defending the fee hike, LUMS VC Arshad Ahmed had stated, “LUMS fees for 2020 were determined before COVID-19 that is entirely consistent with prior years and took into account extraordinary increases in inflation, energy costs and currency devaluation.”
“As a not-for-profit university, gifts from donors, trustees, etc. helps to subsidize one out of three students,” he added.
