SHANGLA: Students at a function at a private college here on Monday demanded of the government to set up an engineering university and technical education institutes in Shangla.

The annual function was held at Shangla Girl School and College, which is run by Zindagi Trust, an NGO, with the financial support of Malala Fund The girls presented tableaus and speeches, highlighting the barriers to girls’ education in Shangla.

The welfare educational institute provides education from play group up to the intermediate level free of cost.

The institute enrolls over 750 girl students, providing the kind of facilities given by the country’s premier educational institutes.

The institute is located in the remote Barkana area, the home town of Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai.

The girl students told reporters that the institute provided them quality education, and inculcated leadership qualities in them.

During a question-answer session on the occasion, students highlighted the non-availability of a full-fledged university in the district, unemployment and early child marriages.

Assistant commissioner, revenue, Javid Iqbal, and educationist Sultan Sikandar responded to the questions.

The session was moderated by a student, Iman Faisal.

Sultan Sikandar, also a former principal of Government Centennial Model School, Alpuri, said the issues raised by the students should be resolved on priority.

He asked the elected people to provide higher education facilities in Shangla, especially for women.

Mr Sikandar also urged non-government organisations working in the education sector to help these girls’ fulfill their dream of pursuing higher education.

Assistant commissioner Javid Ibqal said educated women could change the world for the better. He asked parents to ensure their daughters got education.

Other speakers highlighted the issue of corporal punishment, which they said was common in the government and private schools and madressahs, causing dropouts.

They said the government should implement the laws to help curb corporal punishment in educational institutions.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2024