Govt college turns into a haunted house

Drug addicts have found safe haven in derelict building in Ibrahim Hyderi

KARACHI:

The Government Boys Degree College Ibrahim Hyderi has turned into a haunted house due to the apathy of the Sindh Education Department. Its derelict building has become a safe haven for drug addicts since it was abandoned 10 years ago.

A government primary school has been temporarily over by college students, but the crumbling building is bereft of basic facilities. The college was built and inaugurated in 2012, but it was abandoned for a host of reasons. Now, the building seems to be freshly plucked from some scary movie of Hollywood – thanks to years of neglect.

"It was the only government college in Ibrahim Hyderi, which has become a den of drug addicts," Obaid, a local resident, told The Express Tribune. "We have lived our life, but bereft of basic facilities. The college was built and inaugurated in 2012, but it was abandoned for a host of reasons. Now, the building seems to be freshly plucked from some scary movie of Hollywood – thanks to years of neglect.

"It was the only government college in Ibrahim Hyderi, which has become a den of drug addicts," Obaid, a local resident, told The Express Tribune. "We have lived our life, but we want to safeguard the future of our new generation," he added.

Obaid said that if the government could not operationalize it, then the building should be demolished because it has become a safe haven for drug addicts who also commit robberies in the nearby residential areas.

"After rain, the entire building becomes flooded and no one bothers to drain out water," he said, adding that the building then emits unbearable stink, making life of local residents miserable.

After the issue was highlighted in the Sindh Assembly, the college was shifted to a temporary building in 2017 and named Ibrahim Hyderi College. Attaullah Mangi was appointed principal of the college which had 92 students enrolled in 2017, but the strength has now gone up to 536. The college is bereft of basic facilities, such as electricity, water, and phone, due to lack of ownership.

The building is in derelict shape and the Education Works Department engineer has recommended that it should be immediately vacated, according to sources. Principal Attaullah Mangi said that academic activities have been going on in the temporary building located in the Sindhipara area of Ibrahim Hyderi since 2017.

"The temporary building is old and crumbling, while there is also a severe shortage of teaching staff for 550 students," he told The Express Tribune. "A per standards, the college should have three associate professors, but we have none," he said.

"We should have five assistant professors, but we have only two," he added. "Similarly, there is no computer operator and no superintendent due to which the existing staff is facing severe difficulties."

Mangi further said that there was no canteen, sports room, and library, while 536 students are crammed into two classrooms.

"On days when we have full attendance, our teachers have to take classes in the lab," he added. "The classrooms are crumbling and students are scared of sitting inside."

A few days ago, Director General Colleges Dr. Muhammad Ali Manjhi, along with Deputy Director Dr. Muhammad Qasim Rajpar, visited the temporary building. "I requested them to construct a new building. The DG assured me that the matter will be discussed with higher authorities," the principal said. Director General Colleges Dr. Muhammad Ali Manjhi, while talking to The Express Tribune, said that engineers would inspect the building next week and regular repairs would follow.

"A new college building will take three years to construct," he said, adding that until then academic activities would continue in the temporary building.

Assistant Professor Ghulam Nabi Leghari said: "We do not have teachers for important science subjects like Botany, Zoology and Physics. Similarly, we also don't have teachers for Accounting, Arts and compulsory subjects."

The chemistry lab is also non-functional due to inadequate electricity and gas supplies in the temporary building.

"We're demanding that a new building should be constructed close to the main road, so that it is accessible to everyone," he said. He hoped that once the new building was constructed, then students would also come to attend the college.