Thal college lacks basic facilities

Students have no choice but to sit on ground during classes

NOORPUR THAL: The only college for boys in Noorpur Thal, established in 1989, still lacks basic facilities as hundreds of students are forced to sit on the ground during classes.

The college has 10 rooms, but at present it has only 4 rooms reserved for its 900 students while the remaining rooms are used for those who attend military courses. Students from 84 villages and adjoining districts, including Bhakkar and Jhang, take admissions at the institution. Due to its high enrollment, the institution was granted the status of a degree college in 1998. But, even after the passage of 31 years, the Punjab Higher Education Department has not been able to ensure basic facilities at the college.

College Principal Abdul Ghafoor said that there are only seven permanent lecturers who teach 900 students under the open sky. “The provincial government has not appointed teachers on empty seats. Therefore, to meet our requirements, we have to recruit lecturers on contractual or daily wages for the period of four months,” he said. The principal added that at least seven staff posts are empty but neither the education department nor the political representatives have paid any attention to the issue.

Students demanding basic facilities thrashed by police

Alam Mohammad Murid, one of the students, said that there was no furniture in the classroom to attend the lectures. “We take lectures on sand dunes and take examinations on the ground,” he shared. Another student, Muhammad Murtaza, said that most of the students could not afford to study at a private college that’s why they enrolled themselves at a government college. The government must provide basic facilities and appoint teachers at the college as soon as possible, he added.

Similarly, a girls’ degree college was established in Thal around ten years ago and it also lacks basic facilities. Hundreds of female students study at the college but there are only two permanent lecturers. At least 14 staff posts are vacant.

Mehwish Ashraf, one of the students at the college, said that the college is incurring great losses due to the shortage of teachers in science and computer labs. It is a pity that students are unable to get advantage of these labs in this modern age. “The higher education authority is responsible for the sorry state of affairs at the Thal Girls College,” she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2020.