Tabassum Raza Arain

Affordable education is a right, not a privilege — rollback AMU fee hike now
The recent fee hike at Aligarh Muslim University has sparked widespread outrage among students, who see it as a direct attack on the accessibility of higher education. Reports suggest that certain courses have witnessed increases of up to 30–40%, placing an unbearable financial burden on many families. Students argue that education should be a right, not a commodity reserved for the wealthy. Peaceful demonstrations have been held for days, with human chains and sit-ins at Bab-e-Syed, as both male and female students demand an immediate rollback. However, tensions escalated when police reportedly entered the campus, dragging and assaulting protesters. The administration claims the hike is minimal, but students insist the impact is severe. This movement is more than a protest against higher fees—it is a stand for affordable education, equal opportunity, and the fundamental belief that knowledge should empower, not exclude, the nation’s youth.

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