SIALKOT - Lack of teaching and non-teaching staff and other basic facilities have virtually crippled affairs of the two girls colleges, named after PM Nawaz Sharif and Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif, exposing tall claims regarding promotion of education.
The Punjab government had established “Govt Nawaz Sharif Girls Degree College” over five acres of land in 2014 with a total cost of Rs120 million along Pasrur Road in Sialkot here.
According to the college Principal Mrs Talat Imtnan Cheema, there are 850 registered students in the college with a teaching staff strength of 16 CTI teachers and 11 other regular teachers.
She informed that the posts of lecturers of important subjects including Statistics, Political Science, History, Physical Education, Persian, Punjabi, Home Economics, Education and Library Sciences have been lying vacant since establishment of the college.
She pointed out that two posts each of watchmen and laboratory attendant, three posts each of sweepers and Naib Qasids and one seat of gardener have also been lying vacant for the last two year.
The principal demanded immediate removal of the electric pylons installed in front of the college main gate, saying that students have to face great difficulties. “These electric pylons have caused several fatal road accidents in front of this college.”
Mrs Talat Imtnan claimed the college named after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also lacks gas and drinking water facilities.
Another Govt Shehbaz Sharif Girls Degree College Jaamkey Cheema, in Daska tehsil was established over 23 kanals of land at a cost of Rs68 million in 2014.
College Principal Mrs Zaiba Zahur said that there are 500 students enrolled in the college and the number is on the rise. She informed that there are only 14 CTI teachers and six regular teachers for these students. She regretted though the college is named after Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, it lacks proper security arrangements as second floor of the classrooms is totally insecure. “College has a small gate for entrance and exit due to which stray dogs often enter the college,” she pointed out, adding that the college also houses a computer lab but no computer. “Gravity of the situation can be gauged from the fact that there is a single sweeper for the college spread over 23 Kanals of land,” the principal regretted, adding that college has no mosque and the boundary walls are small.
The college principal informed that Shazia Bibi, who has a Masters Degree in Urdu, has been working as an “Aaya” in the college for Rs6,000 per month.
Local social, educational and political circles have expressed grave concern over the critical situation. They have urged Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Commissioner Gujranwala Division Capt (r) Muhammad Asif and Sialkot DCO Dr Asif Tufail to look into the matter to resolve problems of both the girls degree colleges named after the incumbent rulers.