Threaten to hold sit-ins outside K-P Assembly, CM house
The protest was launched by Pakhtoon Students Federation, Islami Jamiat Talba, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Student Wing, Insaf Student Federation and Muslim Students Federation. They gathered outside Swat Press Club to raise their objections over the matter.
A large number of students shouted slogans against the provincial government, saying over 8,000 students from Swat were not being allowed to seek admissions in various colleges across the district.
Voicing grievances
Addressing the gathering, Abdullah Yousafzai, a student, said he, along with 1,650 other students, was not allowed to obtain admission into Kabal Government Degree College for boys as there is no staff at the institute.
“The college is still closed and the government has claimed to increase its enrolment capacity,” said Yousafzai. Zaheen Khan, another student, told The Express Tribune the college administration had distributed a prospectus among students who were interested in applying.
“However, there is no staff available at the institute,” he added. Malik Riaz Khan, another student, said the government is not taking tangible steps to promote education in this region. “Even though I have passed my exams and meet the criteria, I have not been admitted into any college from the district.”
Beyond capacity
Another student, Bahadur Shah, said Post Graduate College Jehanzeb, Kabal Government Degree College, Matta Degree College, Shamozai Degree College, and other colleges at Khwazakhela have a capacity of 200 students each.
“Yet, 10,000 students pass the HSCC exam every year and are now sitting idle,” he added. Shah said multiple meetings have been held with local MPAs, MNAs, civil society members and other social activists.
“However, nothing has been done to resolve the issue,” he added
Another student said multiple meetings have been held with the administration officials from these colleges to increase the seat quotas. However, little has been done in this regard.
“The officials said they required special permission from the provincial government to do this,” he said.
Warning bells
The students urged the provincial education department to resolve their issues.
“If our demands are not met, we will hold a massive protest outside CM House and the K-P Assembly,” a student told The Express Tribune.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 21st, 2015.
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