Learning in limbo: Around 350 students rejected admission at state-run college

Principal of Jahanzeb College says the institute has limited capacity.

MINGORA:

Around 350 students were deprived of enrolment at Jahanzeb College after the administration stopped admissions prematurely.

Government Jahanzeb College at Saidu Sharif is the oldest and largest post graduate college in Swat valley. Apart from post graduate and bachelors degree, the college also accommodates FA/FSc students.

From the 1,000 seats of FA, FSc, Computer Science and Humanities departments in the college, 650 were given admission while the rest were rejected.

“I got 803 in my SSC exam and was shocked when they rejected me. I don’t know where else to go. My father is very poor; he cannot afford to pay tuition fees of private colleges,” said a student, Shahab, adding he will not be able to study further if he does not get admission at Jahanzeb College. “Who will be responsible for it?” he questioned.

Most of the students who were rejected will not be able to get admission next year either.

“If the previous administrations used to enroll 1,000 applicants, why has the new system reduced it to 650?” questioned Izhar Ali, a student seeking admission in the Humanities Department of the college. “This is the largest college in the entire Malakand division, with enough staff and space to accommodate the same number of students every year,” he added.

The students have demanded the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government to provide alternatives if they cannot study in government colleges. “Where is the government that claims to increase education ratio? We appeal to the K-P chief minister to take notice of the issue and direct the college administration to complete all admissions in the FA/FSc classes,” said another student, Iqbal Khan, warning they will protest if the issue is not resolved.

When contacted, Principal of Jahanzeb College Zahir Shah said the college has the facility to enroll only 650 students and cannot exceed its limit. “The college has 1,000 proposed seats, but only 700 on ground for first year students including FA, FSc, Computer Science and Humanities departments – for which we have completed our admissions,” Shah explained, claiming admissions by the previous administration were not based on merit, but on personal affiliations.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2013.