Restoration risks

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is reportedly planning to restore student unions, ostensibly with the aim of empowering young people and promoting student leadership. The move is, no doubt, encouraging but imparting much freedom to students may politicise the entire academic system. In the past, student unions have interfered in academic and administrative affairs of universities with damaging consequences.

While unions can provide a better platform for students to address their genuine problems and grievances and promote and foster democratic values and critical thinking, they should ensure that their activities do not compromise the ability of universities to deliver a quality education.

Guldar Ali Khan Wazir

Zhob