DCW convocation: Over 300 women complete BA, MA

College gives tough competition to other institutes, says KU vice-chancellor.

KARACHI:

Defence Authority College for Women (DCW) conferred BA and MA degrees to 333 women at its 11th convocation on Tuesday.

Draped in their ceremonial scarves and robes, students from the batches of 2008 and 2009 gathered at the college’s Phase VIII campus to receive their degrees from the chief guest, University of Karachi vice-chancellor Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui.

Six position holders of the Intermediate exams in arts, commerce and general science, were also given medals during the ceremony.

Since its establishment in 1986, DCW has come a long way. It has around 99 faculty members and a student body of over 1,900. Faculty members and students claim it is the first choice among private colleges for students after Matric but many girls stay behind to complete their undergraduate studies as well.

Principal Nasreen Nasir felt proud and called herself “a proud mother of so many girls”. Besides studies, DCW focuses on grooming its students through activities and competitions, she added. “Our children get first preference in all other institutes of architecture, business, etc.”

Dr Siddiqui congratulated the college administration, principal and faculty for the excellent results of their students every year. He hoped that the graduating women will soon join the road to enlightenment and progression and play their part in the development of the nation. “The perception that women are unsuited for intellectual endeavours is a myth because our religion and history reflects significant contributions made by women in all aspects of life,” he said.

DCW is unique because of its carefully selected faculty and academic disciplines, he told The Express Tribune. It gives competition to other undergraduate institutes and can introduce more programmes once it meets the standards set by the Higher Education Commission, he added.

Hira Alvi, who received the first position in her Intermediate commerce exams in 2008, attributed her success to her college as she did not take any tuitions. “I got a fracture a day before my exams. It was my principal who supported me and arranged for my conveyance for all the papers,” she said.

Kanwal, who graduated with a Master’s degree in economics, plans to start teaching besides her own fashion designing business. Her mother smiled proudly as she receives her degree. “I knew she would make it,” she added.

Faculty member Roohi Tayyabi said that the college takes pride in its students and hires them after graduation. To prove her claim, she introduced a young alumnus, Naila Rashid, who has been teaching English for the past seven years. Nazish Samad is another student who joined DCW as a faculty member.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2011.