Official neglect: H-8 boys college hostel in a shambles

Closed for renovation in 2008, work never started.

ISLAMABAD:

The hostel building of the Islamabad Postgraduate Model College for Boys in H-8 has been in a shambles for the last many years due to neglect.

The hostel, which used to accommodate more than 100 out-of-town students every year, has become dilapidated. There is very little furniture left and no boarders, the courtyard overgrown with weeds.

The Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) and the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) officials closed down the hostel in 2008 apparently to renovate it but restoration work was never carried out.

Teachers at the college have brought the issue to the notice of the CADD and FDE officials many times but the requests have fallen on deaf ears.

Earlier this year, when the teachers’ association of the college raised the issue, they were hushed up by officials warning them not to interfere in administrative work.

A senior professor said on the condition of anonymity that after strenuous efforts, the college has been allowed to use up to Rs60,000 from the college fund to renovate the hostel.

He said that the amount was too little to repair the damaged building.

Meanwhile, FDE officials said that the sum exceeding the above mentioned figure will have to be approved by the Public Works Department (PWD).

The PWD has estimated that around Rs3.2 million would be required for renovation while the college administration has estimated Rs1 million for the same work, according to FDE officials.

“If we get permission from the FDE to spend the sum, we can renovate it quickly,” said another professor.

Federal Government College Teachers Association President (local unit H-8 college) Prof Mehmood Ali Khokhar said that the hostel, if renovated, would greatly facilitate college students.

Ansar, a student of the college, who has been living in a private hostel, said that in private hostels they get nothing but dirty rooms, unhygienic food and filthy washrooms. “We are compelled to live in private hostels where we pay heavy sums for terrible accommodation.”

H-9 hostel

The hostel of the H-9 college has been occupied by the Pakistan Baitul Maal (PBM) since 2001. During the tenure of the previous government, the building was handed over to the PBM allegedly in connivance with CADD officials.

The college teachers said that since he hostel building was ‘occupied’, the college has witnessed a drop in enrolment and poor results every year.

Earlier this year, the CADD had sought a report from the FDE about the status of the hostel but no progress has been made to reclaim the building so far.

CADD Spokesperson Rafique Tahir could not be reached for comment despite several attempts.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2014.