SWAT: Hundreds of girls in Swat aspiring to build their careers in health and physical education (HPE) have had their dreams shattered due to the absence of a BS programme in major girls’ colleges here.

While men’s colleges and universities in the region offer the programme, girls in Swat are left with limited options, forcing many to either abandon their dreams or reluctantly switch to other fields.

Government Postgraduate Girls College in Saidu Sharif, one of the largest and most prestigious institutions for women in Swat, currently offers BS programmes in only eight disciplines with around 200 seats. Despite having the capacity to accommodate more disciplines, the college has not introduced HPE as a subject, leaving aspiring female athletes and sports professionals frustrated.

Educationists and students alike are calling on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and the higher education department to take immediate action by launching the BS HPE programme at the college. They argue that this would not only help satisfy the passion of these girls but also enable them to serve their country in the sports field, an area that sorely needs more female representation.

Say many of them forced to either abandon their dream or switch to other fields

“I have always wanted to pursue a career in physical education. I believe in the power of sports to change lives, but without the opportunity to study it at the higher level, I feel stuck,” said Sadia Ali, 19, from Mingora. “All the boys’ colleges offer BS in HPE, but none of the girls’ colleges do so. It’s unfair.”

Another student, Marwa Khan, who had to reluctantly switch her field of study, expressed her disappointment: “I wanted to continue in HPE, but there was no choice for me. I had to choose a subject I am not passionate about just to keep going with my education. I feel like my dream has been taken away.”

The situation is even worse for students like Saba Noor, 21, who discontinued her education entirely after finding no HPE programme for women. “I was heartbroken. There’s nothing available for girls who want to study health and physical education in Swat. I decided to stop my education instead of pursuing a degree I have no interest in. I couldn’t bear it.”

Students and educators stress that the lack of an HPE programme for girls reflects a broader issue of gender inequality in education and sports. Many girls believe the government is deliberately keeping them away from sports and related fields, hindering their chances to excel and contribute to national sports.

“It seems like they don’t want women to enter the sports field,” one student said. “It’s not just about education.

It’s about being denied the opportunity to become athletes, coaches, or even fitness trainers. We want to break these barriers.”

The demands of these girls are clear. They want the government to act swiftly to introduce the BS HPE programme in their colleges, particularly at the Government Postgraduate Girls College, Saidu Sharif, so they can pursue their passion and contribute to society through sports.

The KP government and relevant authorities are urged to address this issue promptly and ensure equal educational opportunities for all, so the young women of Swat can chase their dreams and help shape the future of sports in Pakistan.

Prof Inayatullah Khan, Director Regional Colleges, Malakand, neither responded to calls nor replied to text messages to know his version on the matter.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2024