It is when we give children responsibility and room to operate that they grow to become contributing members of society. Contrast that to NUST's policy of forcing students to attend seminars against their free will, with consequences of a Rs 1000 fine and a threat of Ids being blocked in case of nonconformity.

We will all agree to use force if necessary with children (if need be and then too sparingly) given they lack understanding and we know what is better for them. But when you are older than 18 years and are still treated as a child, one wonders why things aren't the way they are. As in, we are the cause of our condition.

We are a nation that will idly observe a man dangling from a burning building. I feel such policies as these are to be blamed for the lack of initiative. A meager Rs.1000 fine shrivels in mere comparison. A man or woman, who has always acted on the behest of others will have an underdeveloped faculty of decision making. So many of our youth know not what to become. So many choose a career based on someone else's decision.

There is a conflict of interest. For no true educator would resort to such brutality. It is not called decision making when only one option is considered. Were we the students ever asked as to why we don't attend? No...

We students are not puppets to fill seats and clap. 

And despite this compulsion, the absentees can go to 90+. That is Rs 90000+ total fined from one seminar not attended. It is crying wolf with compulsion. When everything becomes compulsory, nothing becomes compulsory.

Problem-solving requires the problem to be understood thoroughly and that is what NUST should do. Figure out why students don't want to attend. Is it a case of marketing the seminar properly? Is it an issue of timing? Is it fatigue from the 9to5 schedule?

It is bad enough that parents fail to do their part. We don't need the mistakes to continue.