IN yesterday’s news report, the Higher Education Ministry claimed that universities have reduced service fees, hostel fees, convocation fees and college activities fees. Fact of the matter is, these only benefit undergraduates. Why are postgraduate left out when it comes to rolling out relief measures? Does it mean that only undergraduates face hardship while postgraduates are coping without problems during the pandemic?

Undergraduates and postgraduates, both should be treated equally by the university. I know of many postgraduates students who are struggling with work and study at the same time because they don’t have the financial luxury of being full-time students. Postgraduate scholarships like myBrain15 are only offered to pure science postgraduate students. How about social science students? This is another form of discrimination against the field of social sciences. Hence what are the options left for postgraduates students who are genuinely interested to pursue their field of study and who will eventually contribute to nation’s human capital? Some who are under the university financial assistance also have to take on several part-time jobs to make ends meet.

What about postgraduates who are working and have to shoulder additional responsibilities arising from family members facing financial hardship during this difficult time?

The university not only side-lines postgraduate students in terms of providing financial assistance, penalty for late registration during the pandemic was imposed as usual. There hasn’t been any consideration given to this group of students. How could a university, a pillar for nation building, ignore the plights of postgraduates students?

Mine you, postgraduates not only struggle financially. They not only need to conduct their research but also face the pressure of publishing in reputable journals in order to graduate. With that amount of contribution to the university, why should postgraduates be left behind from the fee reduction benefit?

While we celebrate the university’s achievement in world ranking, the welfare of postgraduate students should be given due attention. – July 17, 2021.

* Fang Yi Xue reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.