Capped at year 12: Dearth of facilities, staff renders sole degree college useless

The boys college is the only one offering higher education in a 40-km radius.


Muhammad Sadaqat March 15, 2014
Constructed on eight kanals of land, the institute began offering intermediate-level classes during 1977 and was upgraded to a degree level in 1986. PHOTO: EXPRESS

ABBOTABAD:


A severe lack of facilities and shortage of staff at Government Degree College for Boys, Sherwan has forced residents of over 100 villages to send their children to Abbottabad city to continue their studies after the intermediate level.


Sherwan is a famous town of lower Tanawal and is surrounded by over 100 villages. It remained the capital of Sikh rulers till the British defeated them.

Constructed on eight kanals of land, the institute began offering intermediate-level classes during 1977 and was upgraded to a degree level in 1986.

However, due to a lack of interest from elected representatives of the area and the relevant department, the college remained short of facilities, especially at the degree level. This forced villagers to opt for a more costly education for their children in colleges of Abbottabad.

Even though it attained the status of a degree college, not a single science subject class has taken place during the last two and half decades.

High dropout rate

According to the college’s records, over 60 students passed their intermediate exams last year but only six opted to continue their studies there. Around 50% took admissions in private and government colleges of Abbottabad while the rest just quit studying altogether, disclosed Abdul Qayum Tanoli, a social activist who works in the area.

Eight students were enrolled in the third year during 2012 and six last year, and they all had to choose subjects like Law, Islamic studies and Urdu, added Tanoli. There are no science teachers, laboratories and teaching staff for science classes at the degree level.

Labs without machines

During the tenure of the Awami National Party, a computer science block was constructed at a cost of Rs8 million and 29 computers were sent to the college. However, within a few days, this equipment was transferred to Government College for Boys No. 2 Abbottabad for unknown reasons. Then minister for higher education Qazi Muhammad Asad was forced to inaugurate the computer science block without computers.

Tanoli said elders brought the matter to the notice of the minister who promised to have the machines shifted back but it remained an empty vow.

A visit to the institution reveals the computer block has been under lock and key since its inauguration; neither the previous nor the present provincial government appointed computer science teachers or other staff.

Cheap rent or ride?

As the only degree college, public or private, within a 40-kilometre span, it also has no hostels or sports grounds, forcing students and teachers to commute long distances or live in expensive private accommodation.

When approached for comments, Principal Muhammad Riaz said the computers from his college were shifted during his predecessor’s tenure so he could not comment on it. He claimed he has written to his seniors about the staff and facilities’ shortage.

Responding to a question, he revealed there are no laboratories for chemistry, physics and zoology for degree subjects which is why no students pursue them. He said four posts of teachers are lying vacant, two have been hired on a temporary basis from local funds.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15th, 2014.

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