Female students singled out

Girls deprived of admission in humanities depts in Karachi colleges

KARACHI:

Fluctuations in educational policy, regardless of how minute, come at the expense of hopeful students who are subjected to uncertainty regarding their future and a similar change has excluded women from admissions to colleges’ humanities departments.

The Centralised Admission Policy (CAP) Committee, which came into being 22 years ago to make merit lists for 1st-year admissions of intermediate level to Government Colleges of Karachi, has now been disbanded. Resultantly, according to some rough estimates 10,000 female students hopeful of an admission into humanities related disciplines have been impacted.

The CAP Committee, which was previously 19 members strong, consisting of principals of leading government schools, after the directions of the provincial College Education Department, is now headed by two lecturers, deemed as junior as per sources privy to the matter.

“It is these juniors who have abolished humanities departments in several reputed and prestigious colleges in the metropolis,” one college principal alleged, while talking to the Express Tribune under the condition of anonymity.

The merit lists, copies of which are available with the Express Tribune, also show that admissions are not available in humanities in colleges located in the Old City area, including Karachi College, Shaheed-e-Millat College, St. Lawrence College, SMB Fatima Jinnah, Government College for Women Korangi No. 4 and 6, Riaz Girls College, Government College for Women Nazimabad, Apwa Girls College, and Government College for Women Block M North Nazimabad.

The Express Tribune contacted Professor Farhat Jahan, Principal, Government Shaheed-e- Millat Degree College, to confirm the allegations. Farhat said that it was true because the faculty of humanities had been abolished in her college as well, “that too without any prior notice.” She further informed that more than 200 female students who were hopeful of admissions at her college have now been deprived.

Professor Mahjabin Mukhtar, Principal of the St. Lawrence College, concurring with Farhat, said that information about the admissions came to light after the merit list was issued. “When we contacted the concerned authorities, we were directed to teach only science,” Mahjabin said in disbelief. Similarly, Professor Farah Haider, Principal of Government College for Women, Nazimabad, said that this was a serious blow to the 500 girls who take admission at her college. An irate Farah said she would immediately take up the issue with the directorate.

Moreover, Central Joint Secretary of Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association (SPLA) Professor Aziz Memon, while talking to Express Tribune said that it was now clear why policy making should not rest in the hands of few individuals.

Director General Colleges Sindh, Professor Muhammad Ali Manjhi, when asked why female students were being deprived of a humanities education at the whims of CAP Committee members, and was told that he was unaware of the seriousness of the matter. “I will take information from Assistant Director Rashid Khoso in this regard and then take notice,” he assured while talking to The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2022.