A violent chapter of student politics in our educational institutions

Student politics is deeply rooted in the Pakistani education system but it has become synonymous with violence, aggression and bloodshed instead of being constructive.

Political parties and students claim a violation of their basic rights if the authorities do not allow politics within premises of institutions.

When authorities allow them to do so they clash with other student political wings, thus start learning the ropes of politics rather ironically.

However, this is not what should make up student political parties and that is not even the question. The question is how come the environment is made so conducive for violence and other commotions by these student groups in academic activities.

Student political wings, for beginners, are considered to be an extension of the main political parties although without any check and balance as they are not answerable to the public.

This in turn gives them an unchecked license to be violent and otherwise disruptive to the environment of a campus.

With a huge majority of students not even bothering to participate in their activities, they resort to violence every other day in order to get their way. A complete silence, and in some cases backing, of the faculty has also made it easier for such groups to establish themselves.

Same is the case with others universities where student political parties have taken over the campus for decades.

Students have killed students over differences of opinions and ideologies. The history of student politics is rife with unions being hijacked by influential groups.

This has been the main cause of students putting down their pens and picking up guns, as student workers and leaders – under the influence of power – feel they are above the law. Later, with their violent deeds behind them, influential groups use these students as land-grabbers or even as a means to intimidate their rivals.

To be fair, it is only rational to allow other political parties to have their student wings as well. Allowing only one political party on the campus is nothing short of a dictatorship.

Student politics could become a positive activity unless it is regulated by students, and to some extent the faculty, but not at all by political parties.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Oct 27 2012. Filed under Education, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.