Since the past few years, students across Pakistan have been marching every November to get their voices heard by presenting their demands. Big scores of students come out every year to join the protest with the hope that their demands will be met by those at the helm of the affairs. The demands presented by them are neither unfair nor unacceptable by any stretch of imagination. 
The first and foremost demand that they put forward is to lift the ban on student unions and to conduct their elections nationwide. This particular demand aims to strengthen the grassroots politics in the country and to include the youth of the country in the political process. Pakistan is a country where the youth comprises more than 60 per cent of the population and when we look at the people running the affairs of the country all we see are either octogenarians or people who have no association with the youth. A vast majority of the population is therefore not included in the decision making process because of the ban on student unions. 
Secondly, they demand the abolishment of the affidavit which the students have to sign in order to secure their admission. The affidavit includes a clause which states that the students cannot take part in any political activity on campus. The students are not only threatened but also suspended or in worst case scenario expelled for even petitioning their demands in front of the university administration. This restriction is in direct violation of the article 17 of the constitution which allows every citizen the right to form associations or unions. Another demand asks to establish sexual harassment committees across all campuses in the country in which both male and female students will have representation, including gender minorities.
The demands further state that the process of privatisation of education be stopped and the increase in fee be taken back, so that education can be made accessible for all. Furthermore, there shouldn’t be any budget cuts of the Higher Education Commission and atleast five per cent of the GDP be allocated for education alone. Similarly, state of the art educational institutions be established in areas which are deprived due to state negligence and scholarships be granted for students who belong from that area. The demands also included that the PMC act be taken back and fee of medical colleges whether public or private universities be kept in check. 
Moreover, the demands include establishing digital infrastructure in educational institutions across Pakistan and basic facilities such as internet, libraries and hostels should be provided to students free of cost. This also refers to providing better 3G and 4G infrastructure in far flung areas to ensure equal access to online classes. 
The students also demand that opportunities to work should be ensured and a stipend be given to the jobless students so that they can stay afloat in this tough economy and can at least provide themselves with the very basic necessities to survive. The demands also include the demilitarisation of campuses across Sindh and Balochistan in particular.
Last but not the least, the demands include to abolish the class based educational system where only the rich and privileged get to educate themselves and the marginalised don’t get a chance to uplift themselves. The education provided should be up to date and based on scientific knowledge. 
These demands, if adopted by the state will ensure a universal standard of education for the youth of Pakistan while also cultivating a generation of leaders that are well acquainted with today’s challenges. 
- The writer is a student of 
international relations and a student rights activist with a particular interest in 
international and domestic politics. He can be reached at musswynne@gmail.com and tweets @mustafa_wynne.