Girl students in Swat oppose boys’ college on their campus land

Published November 13, 2024 Updated November 14, 2024 07:30am
Students stage a protest in Khwazakhela, Swat, on Tuesday. — Dawn
Students stage a protest in Khwazakhela, Swat, on Tuesday. — Dawn

SWAT: A large number of girls students on Tuesday took to the streets to protest the government’s decision to allocate land of their college for the construction of a boys’ college in Khwazakhela tehsil here.

The students chanted slogans against the government’s decision and called for its reversal.

The protesting students said that their college building had remained under the use of security forces for 15 years, and when the college was made operational, miscreants torched its 15 classrooms.

“When the college building was under the occupation of the security forces, we were forced to attend classes in a madressah that lacked the necessary facilities,” Ishrat Bibi, a BS student, said.

Currently, she said the students were attending to their classes in tents as the burned classrooms could not be reconstructed till date.

The students deplored that instead of addressing their plight, the government’s recent decision to allocate a portion of the college’s land for a boys’ college showed its lack of commitment towards the promotion of girls’ education.

The girls said that there was ample government land in Khwazakhela for constructing the boys’ college.

“While we’ve been waiting for funds to reconstruct our destroyed classrooms, the government seems to have funds readily available for a new college for boys. We are not opposed to building the college, but it should not come at the expense of our campus,” Hifsa, another student, asserted.

The protesters warned of staging a sit-in if their college’s land was allocated for boys’ college.

When contacted, higher education department’s regional director Inayatullah Khan told Dawn that the girls’ college campus spanned 53 kanals of land though KP regulations stipulated a requirement of only 20 kanals for a college.

“The department has decided to allocate 20 kanals of land for the boys’ college, leaving about 30 kanals for the girls’ college. Additionally, approximately Rs70 million have been approved for the reconstruction of the burned classrooms, work on which would begin soon,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

China security ties
Updated 14 Nov, 2024

China security ties

If China's security concerns aren't addressed satisfactorily, it may affect bilateral ties. CT cooperation should be pursued instead of having foreign forces here.
Steep price
14 Nov, 2024

Steep price

THE Hindu Kush-Himalayan region is in big trouble. A new study unveiled at the ongoing COP29 reveals that if high...
A high-cost plan
14 Nov, 2024

A high-cost plan

THE government has approved an expensive plan for FBR in the hope of tackling its deep-seated inefficiencies. The...
United stance
Updated 13 Nov, 2024

United stance

It would've been better if the OIC-Arab League summit had announced practical measures to punish Israel.
Unscheduled visit
13 Nov, 2024

Unscheduled visit

Unusual IMF visit shows the lender will closely watch implementation of programme goals to prevent it from derailing.
Bara’s businesswomen
13 Nov, 2024

Bara’s businesswomen

Bara’s brave women have proven that with the right support, societal barriers can be overcome.