Students of three commerce colleges go on strike

The commerce students of first, second and final year in Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Civil Lines, Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women, Gujarkhan Campus, Model Town, and DD Jain Memorial College for Women, Kidwai Nagar, went on strike.

The agitating students alleged the fees have been doubled. Moreover, they were not informed about the hike at the time of admission or even later, claimed the students .

The college managements on the other hand said the fees were being demanded as per Punjab University guidelines. They said the students had been apprised about the fee structure well in advance.

The protest held by the students of DD Jain Memorial College for Women continued on the second day today. The situation at the college turned unpleasant as parents of three students representing the protesting students were called for by the college authorities.

Today’s protests came two days after the students of Guru Nanak Girls College (GNGC) took on the college authorities for allegedly overcharging them.

“The fee has been charged as per the structure devised by the university. We held two meetings with class representatives of the commerce department. Three of them said they would not accept any university circular and hence we had to call their parents to sort out the matter,” said Dr Surinder Dua, principal of DD Jain Memorial College.

“These protests are sparked by GNGC,” said a college professor. “But students should know that the fee has been charged as per the Punjab University guidelines.”

“Since we are raising our voice against the rise in fees, the teachers have started threatening us saying they would deduct marks in the assessment or practicals,” said some students at GNKCW.

However, Gurbir Singh Sarna, general secretary of the management team at GNKCW, said, “The fee is charged according to PU guidelines. But no student will be victimised for taking part in the protest.” He said they will communicate with the protestors to end their resentment.

The students boycotted classes throughout the day. Some students threatened to continue protests until the college managements came clear on the issue. “We want a dialogue with the management or we will continue with the protests,” said a student of GGN Khalsa College. “Last year we paid an annual fee of nearly Rs 10,000, but this year the total fee is about Rs 20,000,” said a final year commerce student of GNKCW.

Jagpal Singh, a professor at SCD Government College, who is a senator in graduates’ constituency from the city, said he will raise the issue in the senate meeting to be held in December.

“The fee structures for regular and self-financed courses are different. The fee for self-financed course is bound to be higher. But colleges can be blamed only if they charge more than the prescribed fee structure,” he said.