Laptop scheme exclusion

The Government of Pakistan has introduced several initiatives to promote education and digital learning across the country. Among them, the laptop scheme was launched few years ago with the stated aim of facilitating deserving students who cannot afford laptops and enabling them to become skillful in a technology-driven world. While the objective of this scheme is appreciable, its implementation raises serious concerns.

According to the official website portal of the laptop scheme, students enrolled in affiliated colleges are declared ineligible to avail themselves of this facility. This exclusion is difficult to justify, especially when the policy of affiliating colleges with universities was itself introduced to support students who cannot afford the financial burden of university education. Ironically, both initiatives were launched with the same ambition — to promote educational equity — yet they function in contradiction to one another.

Students of affiliated colleges face the same academic demands and digital requirements as university students. Denying them access to laptops not only discourages them but also defeats the very spirit of equal opportunity.
It is earnestly hoped that the authorities will revisit this policy and extend the laptop scheme to deserving students of affiliated colleges on merit, ensuring fairness and transparency.

MUHAMMAD ASIM CHAK BALI KHAN

RAWALPINDI