KOHAT, Oct 30: In view of the problems being faced by female students in getting admission to the two girls colleges due to limited number of seats, the government has decided to open a third degree college for women in the abandoned building of Liaquat Memorial Hospital, it is learnt.

The education ministry has issued an order in this regard after carrying out a study of the proposal presented by the district administration. The NWFP Education Minister, Imtiaz Hussain Gilani, has asked the director works and services to prepare a PC-1 for carrying out necessary modifications in the building to make it suitable for a college which would also have a spacious hostel for the students from the far-flung areas.

During the current year, over 350 students seeking admission to first and third year classes could not be accommodated in the Government Degree College for Women due to shortage of seats. The problem of limited seats has been persisting since 1985.

To overcome this problem, the education minister soon after assuming charge created 30 extra seats each for the first year arts and science faculties and third year but despite this a large number of students were deprived of higher education due to the fact that the Government Degree College, Kohat, mostly caters to the needs of the girls students from Karak district, Hangu, Thall and Parachinar and some from Bannu.

The college attracts a large number of students from the outskirts and other areas because it is the only college in the region which has the hostel facility.

About the accommodation in the hostel, a college official told Dawn that at present five to six girls had been lodged in a single room meant for a maximum of three students. Most of the students are from Karak district and against the capacity of 90 students, 165 students had been lodged at present in the hostel which badly affected the study and mental peace of the students specially in the summer when water becomes scarce.

The situation also put extra burden of responsibility on the warden who had to look after so many students and also solve their problems.

On the other hand, the Federal Government College for Women provides admissions only to the children of army officers and other government employees on quota basis while there are 5 per cent seats reserved for civilians. The college fee is also very high which is out of the reach of a common man. The college has no hostel facility therefore majority of the civilians prefer to get their daughters admitted to the Government College for Women.