Doors to degree courses in govt colleges stay shut

College education dept yet to start BS programmes after two-year BA, BSc, BCom ended four years ago

KARACHI:

Thousands of underprivileged students have been denied access to the free government college graduation programmes for the past four years - thanks to the neglect and indifference shown by the Sindh College Education Department. The doors to degree programmes in government-run colleges have remained closed, leaving many aspiring students with limited options.

A considerable number of youth in the metropolitan city, unable to secure admissions to the University of Karachi or any other public sector varsity, find themselves either resorting to expensive private universities or languishing at home due to financial constraints. This unfortunate situation is not limited to Karachi alone but extends to other regions in Sindh.

Even the caretaker government has been unable to change the situation. The Department of College Education introduced the idea of initiating a four-year BS degree programme in government colleges in October this year. However, a nine-member committee formed to review the draft policy has yet to convene for a single meeting, reflecting the lack of urgency and commitment from the department.

Four years ago, the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) in Islamabad abolished the two-year graduation program, including Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc), and Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), nationwide, instructing the commencement of BS four-year degree programs in colleges, equivalent to graduation. Despite this directive, the two-year graduation program in colleges was downgraded to an "associate degree," deterring enrolment due to its non-equivalence to a traditional graduation certificate.

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Expressing frustration, Hamad, a student, shared his predicament of not being able to pursue a graduation degree at a government college after intermediate. Unable to secure admission to his preferred university and lacking the funds for a private varsity, he opted for an associate degree program on a private basis, considering it a more financially viable option.

Currently, there are 92 government colleges in Karachi alone, all formerly offering two-year graduation programs. However, post-intermediate enrolment has plummeted as students show disinterest in the two-year associate degree. Among the 92, only five government colleges in Karachi offer the BS four-year degree program on a limited scale.

The Express Tribune reached out to Professor Sulaiman Sayal, Director of Government Colleges in the Karachi Region, for his version on the delay in initiating degree programs. Despite his claims of progress, citing imminent meetings, no satisfactory explanation was provided for the alleged directive from the HEC to halt the process.

Despite multiple attempts, The Express Tribune was unable to obtain a response from Sadaf Sheikh, Secretary of College Education, regarding the reasons behind depriving government colleges of degree programmes. It is crucial for authorities to address these concerns immediately and take decisive actions to ensure educational opportunities for the youth are not compromised.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2023.