Students stage demo against HEC, Pakistan. (gov delaying ed scholarship in Cuba)

[Mika]

Students stage demo against HEC
http://thepost.com.pk/ShortNewsT.aspx?shortid=5951&catid=2

ISLAMABAD: The students selected for the scholarships to study MBBS in Cuba but not sent so far staged a protest against the delay outside the Higher Education Commission office in Islamabad Tuesday.

After the disastrous earth quake of October 8, 2005, the Cuban government offered 1,000 scholarships for MBBS study to the government of Pakistan of whom only 356 students have been sent so far while the rest 644 are still waiting for their turn.

As many as 644 medical students' future is in doldrums and they are waiting for their departure to Cuba on scholarship. The students belonging to Mirpur, Kashmir, Khushab and Murree assembled outside the HEC office to register a protest. They were holding placards and banners inscribed with the slogans in their favour.

The HEC announced scholarships for MBBS study in Cuba in May 2006 and all the procedure like test/documentation was completed. The selected candidates also paid Rs 130,000 and the HEC promised to send them to Cuba not later than October 2007.

The HEC has been adopting delaying tactics, Hassan, an affected candidate, told The Post. The students were regularly told by the HEC that they were being sent to Cuba soon, said Muhammad Irfan, another student.

When contacted, HEC Project Director Tahir Zaidi was not available in his office. It was learnt through the other staff that the documentation was under process and the problem of these students would soon be solved.

-