NGO intervenes to restore BS programme

Ghazi College administration had signalled an end to four-year degree citing lack of funds

HARIPUR:

A local NGO has intervened to restore the four-year BS programme at Government Boys Degree College Ghazi.

Two days back, the college administration announced to do away with the four-year degree after the BS programme was started three years back in 2018.

The college administration, citing financial constraints and lack of funding from the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government, had announced to end the four-year programme, which had prompted the students and locals to stage a protest against the decision.

On Friday, locals including political figures and held a meeting with the college principal to continue with the BS programme, for the time being, after Zubaida Aman Foundation Chairman Muhammad Rehman assured to pay Rs100,000 per month to pay for the salaries of lecturers teaching English and physics — the two subjects being taught in BS four-year programme.

Prominent personalities of the area, including Shahid Iqbal, Alhaj Firdous Khan, Chaudhry Mushtaq, Chaudhry Arshan Mohammad, Ejaz, Malik Mohammad Irshad, Khurshid Asim Nawaz and others, took part in the meeting.

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Talking to the delegation, the college principal said that they lacked funds to pay for the salaries of teachers hired for BS classes.

The college administration told the delegation that no additional classrooms have been provided for this purpose and they lacked a lab to run the programme. The administration said that no permanent hiring had been made, nor the provincial government was providing funds while several vacancies were lying vacant in the college. In these circumstances, it was difficult for us to continue the programme.

It is to be remembered that Ghazi college is the only institution in the area where students belonging to lower and middle-income groups study. The college has 200-kanal land.

In 2018, a four-year BS programme in physics and English was started and many students had been enrolled.

In August, the college abruptly signalled to do away with the BS programme, which caused concern among the students.

MPA Faisal Zaman’s secretary Shahid Iqbal, who was among the delegation, told the college administration that until the issue of hiring the teaching staff was resolved, salaries and other expenses of the existing teacher will be borne by Zubaida Aman Foundation and the BS programme will continue in the college.

The Zubaida Aman Foundation also carries out several other welfare schemes in the area, including a hospital, an ambulance and free transport for girls.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2021.