KARACHI: Colleges, high schools await SNEs’ approval
By Ali Hazrat Bacha
KARACHI, Oct 23: The government’s tall claims about improvement in quality of education can be judged from the fact that the Statement of New Expenditures (SNEs) of various higher secondary schools and colleges of the Orangi Town has not been approved so far.
The secondary schools have been upgraded to the higher secondary level only on the papers, but there are neither sufficient teachers nor facilities for the higher classes. The newly established colleges have, however, given admissions in intermediate classes and also started conducting the classes through a small number of volunteers or cooperative teachers, but in the prevailing uncertain circumstances the future of the students seems very bleak.
Not only the schools, but the colleges too are in dire need of the government’s attention. The higher secondary schools can also play a role like that of the colleges and could be established with minimum expenditures in the already established secondary schools, but staff and class rooms are the basic requirements for the purpose. No doubt, the government by spending millions of rupees has constructed very beautiful buildings of the colleges, but did not frame a concrete policy to provide the staff and other facilities on time.
During visits to the higher secondary schools and colleges in the town, it was learnt that lecturers of other colleges were unwilling to attend Orangi colleges. The following are some inside stories of the institutions.
The Government Girls’ Degree College in Orangi Town’s Sector 7/C was established on Sept 22, 2004, but its statement of new expenditures (SNE) has so far not been approved for the reasons best know to the officials concerned. The area is densely populated, and the college was a long standing demand of the people. The girls college is equally accessible to the people of Orangi and SITE towns and can play a vital role in increasing the literacy rate in the areas, but the government is not paying due attention towards it.
Though it is a degree college, it has only a two-member staff – a principal and an office clerk. The permanent teaching staff has not been posted there yet.
The city government had provided two cheques of Rs500,000 and Rs300,000 during the sessions 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 respectively in order to clear the dues and hire services of some cooperative lecturers, but the amount could not meet the expenditures and the services of the cooperative teachers were terminated. However, the non-teaching staff has been hired on contract. Some lecturers, who are masters in different subjects, are voluntarily offering their services on the request of the college’s principal.
Admissions have been given up to the intermediate level for the time being, as degree classes can not be conducted in these circumstances. The number of students at present is stated to be about 300. The college has been without supply of water and power.
When contacted the college principal, she told Dawn that last year there were 550 students, and this year the number was likely to cross the figures of the last year. She said that despite the difficulties, science subjects were also being taught in the college.
About the staff, the principal said that the officials concerned were very cooperative, who had assured her of SNE’s approval and the matter would hopefully be resolved shortly. It is perhaps the only college of the city where 20 students have passed tests and interview of Decentralized Elementary Education Project and qualified for a scholarship meant for the deserving students. The DEEP has started payment of monthly scholarship of Rs3,500 to each student which would continue till their graduation.
The Govt College of Commercial Education, established in 2001 in Orangi Sector-11 ½, has been awaiting approval of its SNE since its inception. There is no teacher for English and Accounting. The college has only five teachers for 250 students.
Talking to Dawn, the principal said that 20 computers and four printers were required for the classrooms. He complained about electricity and stressed the need for some alternate arrangement as without power computer classes could not be conducted.
The principal also called for regular supply of drinking water.
There is another degree girls’ college in the same sector, which has been facing a number of problems owing to delay in the approval of SNE. Though established four years back on Sept 5, the boundary wall of the college collapsed during monsoon rains.
A professor and director of physical education have been detailed to work while the services of a few non-teaching staff has been hired temporarily. The number of students, at present, is stated to be about 60. There is no water supply to the college for the reasons best known to the officials concerned. It was informed that during the last two sessions, two cheques of Rs300,000 and Rs200,000 were provided to the college for hiring cooperative teachers, but the funds could not meet the requirement.
The Government Girls’ Intermediate Science, Commerce and Arts College, established in 1994 in Sector 15/C of the town, still lacks the staff. There are 600 girls studying in the college.A reliable source told Dawn that at least 20 posts of different categories had been lying vacant since long, but the authorities concerned seemed least concerned to fill them. There is no lecturer for English, Urdu, Zoology, Computers, Banking, Islamic Education, Pakistan Studies, Statistics, Islamic Studies, Economics, Civics and Principles of Commerce. It was told that the college needed two teachers for English, Urdu, Zoology and Computers each.
It was also informed that one post of computer laboratory attendant, office attendant, librarian, senior clerk, five posts of laboratory assistants, two watchmen and three sweepers had also been vacant.
The services of three cooperative teachers had been availed on a fixed salary of Rs4,000 and some non-teaching staff, but it was not a permanent solution, the source said and added that the college also had no SNE for the post of principal and the college was being run through acting principals. The Government Degree Science and Commerce College at Peerabad (Banaras) is one of the city’s old colleges, which was established in 1980. It is also known as Abdul Haamid Badayoni College. Its building was basically constructed for a religious seminary (madressah) in 1967, which was later converted into college.
During a visit to the college, it was learnt that there was no lecturers in the commerce, English and botany departments for the last two years. The building is also in a very dilapidated condition, which is near to collapse any time. It has no boundary wall and the encroachers have occupied the entire front portion. Students have asked for construction of lavatories in the college premises. It was informed that the building had already been declared as dangerous by the officials concerned.
About 200 students are taking classes at the Mono-technical Institute established at Sector 7/C three years back.
A staffer told Dawn that the SNE was yet to be approved by the authorities concerned. The services of sweepers and watchmen have been hired.
Due to shortage of staff, only the computer information technology and textile dying and printing departments are functional in the institute. Textile machinery was provided to the institute about one year back, but it required some necessary parts.
A source in the technical education told Dawn that the machinery had been supplied at a cost of Rs2.6 million and if could not be installed, it would be a huge loss of public exchequer. The source further disclosed that the concerned high ups were well aware of the matter and inquiry committees were already working. When the principal was approached for his comments, he said that the machinery had been received, but ‘conditionally and subject to inspection’.
Following schools in Orangi have been upgraded to the higher secondary level: Govt Boys Secondary School, Orangi No 14; Govt Girls Secondary School Sector 13-G, and Govt Girls Secondary School Baba Wilayat Ali Shah.
The admissions have been given only in the Baba Wilayat Ali Shah Higher Secondary School, where the free books have not been provided to students yet. The school has no permanent principal and the acting one was also not available for comments.
Scholarship for girls
By A Reporter
KARACHI: Lecturers at a number of colleges appreciated the government policy of awarding scholarships to school girls from class 6th to 10th and also proposed the same for the college girls.
The lecturers said that at the school level the government had already announced scholarship for girls, which had proved very helpful for the poor students. But at the college level, students have to pay Rs950 and Rs770 fee for seeking admission in science and arts faculties respectively.
They said that there were many students, who could not afford the expenditures and leave their studies.
