Girls Degree College Bara gets BS Zoology

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Directorate of Higher Education has formally approved the BS Zoology programme at Government Girls Degree College Bara. The programme will initially offer admissions to 40 female students.

The decision has been hailed as a major victory not just for Tehsil Bara but for the entire district, as it will enable hundreds of young women to pursue higher education while staying in their home areas.

Parents, teachers, and community leaders have long highlighted that limited opportunities for higher education in the tribal districts force many girls to discontinue studies after FSc. The launch of the BS Zoology programme at Government Girls Degree College Bara is being seen as a landmark step towards promoting women's education, scientific awareness, and access to quality learning at the local level.

The demand for a BS programme at the college had been under discussion for several years. Female students, parents, teachers, and local elders repeatedly called for expanded higher education facilities so that girls would not have to travel to Peshawar or other cities.

The issue gained prominence after a detailed report published in Express Tribune highlighted the challenges faced by female students, the scarcity of opportunities, and the urgent need for a BS programme. Following the report, Provincial Assembly Member and District Khyber Dedac Chairman Abdul Ghani Afridi took notice and engaged with higher education officials. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also paid special attention to the matter.

The approval was made possible through the combined efforts of College Principal Zarqa Shabir, the Higher Education Department, elected representatives, and local education stakeholders.

News of the BS Zoology programme's approval triggered waves of joy among the college's female students. Many welcomed the decision, saying they would no longer need to travel to distant cities or impose additional financial burdens on their families.

Students pointed out that daily commuting from rural areas of Khyber to Peshawar or other cities is not only difficult but financially unfeasible for many families. Social and cultural factors also discourage many parents from sending their daughters away for studies. In this context, the introduction of a BS programme locally has emerged as a new ray of hope for hundreds of girls.

The students have urged the government to introduce BS programmes in other modern scientific disciplines such as Chemistry, Botany, Computer Science, Physics, and more in the future.

Educational Landscape in Khyber District

Official statistics paint a clear picture of the education situation in the district. A total of 126,318 students are enrolled across government institutions, including 73,218 boys and 53,100 girls.

While girls' enrolment has improved noticeably in recent years, a gender gap persists, particularly at higher education levels. Experts attribute this to limited opportunities, economic constraints, and social barriers.

Encouraging Progress at Primary Level

From nursery to Class 5, 97,472 students are enrolled (53,692 boys and 43,780 girls). Highest enrolment is in KG (22,787), followed by Class 1 (18,010) and Class 2 (16,469). Educationists say this reflects growing parental interest in early education.

Concerning Dropout Trend in Higher Grades

From Class 6 to 10, total enrolment stands at 28,846 (19,526 boys and 9,320 girls). Numbers drop sharply from 8,100 in Class 6 to just 3,804 in Class 10, highlighting significant dropout rates, especially among girls, due to social, economic, and academic challenges.

Bara Emerges as Largest Education Hub

Bara leads in student numbers across all levels. At primary level, 44,485 students study in Bara compared to 32,141 in Jamrud and 20,846 in Landi Kotal. Similar trends are visible at middle and high school levels.

Current Challenges

Khyber district has 747 government educational institutions (406 for boys and 341 for girls). While the primary network is relatively strong, the number of high and higher secondary schools, particularly for girls, remains limited. This shortage is a major reason many girls discontinue education after matriculation and FSc.