In a significant step towards fostering student representation and campus engagement, the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training (MoFEPT) has granted approval for the revival of student unions in federal educational institutes. Led by Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi, the Islamabad Capital Territory Students Unions Bill 2023, takes center stage in the ongoing initiatives to rejuvenate the pivotal role of student bodies in educational institutions.
This legislative proposition, forwarded from the Senate after its deliberations in July 2023, received unanimous backing from the committee. Lawmakers engaged in extensive discussions, acknowledging the adverse consequences of the prior ban on student unions. They emphasized its detrimental impact on law and order within educational institutions, noting its contribution to the emergence of religious and regional ethnicities among students.
The sweeping prohibition on student unions, enforced by military ruler Zia-ul-Haq in 1984, stifled a platform that had once propelled numerous student unionists into political prominence. Several of these individuals have since ascended to ministerial roles or secured positions within their respective political parties.
Senator Tangi highlighted the potential of student unions to prevent administrative challenges, citing the recent upheaval at Islamia University Bahawalpur (IUB) as a compelling example. He underscored the role of union representatives as mediators between the administration and students, envisioning a campus environment characterized by peace and effective conflict resolution.
However, the efforts to reinstate student unions encountered resistance from the Higher Education Commission (HEC), a development lamented by Senator Tangi. He accused the HEC of attempting to impede the resurgence of student unions but asserted that their commitment to a public service cause ultimately prevailed.
The anticipated reinstatement of student unions is envisioned as a catalyst for fostering peace within educational institutions and eradicating regional ethnicities. Committee chair Irfan-ul-Haq Siddiqui proposed the formulation of rules to guide these unions, advocating for inclusivity across the board rather than aligning with specific groups or mainstream political parties.
Acting Executive Director (ED) of the HEC, Awais Ahmed, stressed the necessity for a comprehensive mechanism in this restoration process. He recommended the establishment of elected bodies within the unions, selected through democratic elections. Ahmed emphasized the core purpose of educational institutions – the dissemination of education and the promotion of research studies – asserting that this fundamental objective should remain uncompromised at all costs.
As the bill progresses through the legislative process, it marks a pivotal moment in reshaping the landscape of student involvement within federal educational institutes.