Swat’s oldest girl’s college reels from teacher shortage

There are only 24 female lecturers for 2,000 students.

SWAT:

The oldest degree college for girls in Saidu Sharif isn’t exactly a hub of learning. Of the 40 teaching posts at the college, 16 have been lying vacant for many months now. Hundreds of girls have no option but to wait for these posts to be filled before they can start real studies.

“I got admission in FA only recently and there is so much stress as teachers for so many subjects have not been posted here yet. We haven’t taken any classes of Home Economics and Islamiat,” a student requesting anonymity told The Express Tribune.

College sources say there are only 24 teachers on duty for more than 2,000 students. This has left the students with too much free time on their hands.

Shazia, an FSc student, said, “How are we supposed to study when there are no teachers for Physics or Islamiat? Some well-off girls have arranged for private tuitions but most of us are poor and cannot afford the same luxury.”

Most people in Swat are reluctant to send their daughters to schools. Although the female literacy rate is encouraging up till secondary school certificate level, 80% of the girls quit school after that. The few who manage to take admission in colleges are left with limited options.

The college principal, Nasreen Yahya, said, “The government promised to take up the matter, [but] we don’t know why they’re not [hiring new teachers]. I’m concerned about the students.”

Provincial Minister Wajid Ali Khan, however, stated that he has never been contacted by the college authorities about the lack of teachers.

He insisted that had he been informed earlier on, he would have ensured the problem did not occur.

“[The school administration] should properly inform us about their demands; I will endorse and forward their application to the concerned higher authorities and I’m hopeful that the matter will soon be resolved,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2012.