SHANGLA: The two girls degree colleges constructed two years ago in Shangla district have been non-functional for want of the sanctioned staff, complain students and activists.

“I had to quit education after passing the intermediate level as the government has failed to provided the required staff at the two degree colleges in the district, and because I cannot afford high fees of private colleges,” Jia Ali, a student, told Dawn.

She said like her hundreds of other girls had to quit education due to non-provision of teachers. She said now the girls had pinned hopes on education activist Malala Yousafzai as he had initiated work on a college in the district, which will be complete soon.

One of the degree colleges is located in Puran, while the other has been established at Maira area of Bisham tehsil.

“We have been raising voice for making the colleges functional but the provincial government has failed do so,” said Ibadullah Khan, a social activist.

Naila, a second year student, said currently she was studying in the government higher secondary school but she was worried about her upcoming bachelor studies. She said scores of girls had quit further studies due to unavailability of teachers at the degree colleges.

District education officer, female, Parveen Rehman told Dawn on contact said the girl students had passion for getting higher education but it seemed they won’t get further education as long as posts for the degree colleges were not sanctioned.

MPA Abdul Munim, when contacted, told this correspondent that he had been making efforts to make the girls degree colleges functional. He hoped that the provincial government would soon sanction the staff for the degree college in Puran.

PROMOTED: About 14 constables have been promoted as head constables in Shangla district.

A statement issued by the district police office on Friday said the constables from the various police stations had been made head constables. The DPO Shangla congratulated the promoted cops and asked them to work hard for the security of the people and their properties.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2017