KARACHI, Dec 3: Owing to the negligence of government officials and shortage of teaching staff in many colleges in SITE Town have not been able to introduced degree courses since their inception.
Due to staff shortage, the existing lecturers have to take extra classes and teach subjects other than their own. Some colleges have hired services of cooperative lecturers on fixed salaries, which are not paid during the seasonal vacations and in case of their absence.
There is only one government girls’ degree college in the entire town. Located in Metroville, the college has no permanent lecturer for 600 girls studying in faculties of science, commerce and humanities. A few lecturers have been appointed temporarily on a fixed monthly salary of Rs4,000.
Since its inception in 2002, the statement of new expenditures has not been approved. Water supply to the college was discontinued a couple of months back. Power meter has not been installed due to lack of funds and power needs are met through illegal connection.
College principal claimed she had been corresponding with the concerned officials for the approval of SNEs.
She said all problems would be solved with the SNEs approval. She said 270 admissions to first year had been given till November mid. However, she said, degree classes had not been started due to non-availability of staff.
Without a permanent watchman, the under-construction portion of the college was exposed to all. When this scribe visited the college, trucks and coaches were parked outside its main gate.
The degree college for boys is located in Asifabad, where 1,100 students are imparted lectures by 10 teachers. Established in 1994, the SNE of college has not been revised for last many years.
Admissions are given in science, commerce and general groups. Owing to the shortage of teaching staff, only intermediate admissions are being offered.
The principal, when asked, said the college required at least 10 more teachers. Besides, two posts of laboratory attendant, a watchman and a gardener have been vacant in the college since long.
Due to financial constraints, the principal said, cooperative teachers could not be hired. He said the existing staff was very cooperative, but for such a large number of students the college was in dire need of lecturers.
Lecturers complained about shortage of furniture in classrooms saying that the problem aggravates in exams.
Shortage of chemicals and equipment in laboratories and non-availability of museum in zoology department was also reported. The doors and windows damaged by termites needed repair.
The Government College of Technology, spread over 103 acres located near Labour Square on the main Shershah-Baldia Road, is one of the oldest colleges of the country.
Established in 1954 with the assistance of Ford Foundation and Colombo plan, it offers diploma of associate engineer and BTech. However, the institution is facing shortage of staff. About 26 posts of teachers in different departments have been vacant since long.
Sixteen technologies have been functional in the college and all of them are in need of staff. The posts of librarians have also been vacant and the duties have been assigned to clerical staff.
During visit to the college, it was learnt that posts of two professors, nine associate professors, eight assistant professors, four lecturers and three senior instructors had been vacant since long.
The machinery in different departments of the college installed about half a century ago cannot fulfil the present requirement. In this backdrop, the departments are facing shortage of proper equipment and students are unable to carry out practical works.
It was learnt that 50 students were enrolled in electronics department. Three instruments at its disposal were insufficient for all students to carry out their practical works.
In power department, the steam boiler has not been functional for last one decade and students instead of doing something practical can only look at the giant machine to learn theoretically about it.
During a visit to the department, it was learnt that a 25KV thermal power plant with steam engine turbines has not been functional for the last about 18 years. A source revealed that the turbine was started last time on the arrival of a former governor General Rahimuddin in 1988. In the past, it used to supply electricity to the college and residential colony in case of power failure. The supporting three generators have also got rusted.
All the machines are property of the public works department and its own staff used to run them very successfully till 1972-73. Though computerised power generators having double capacity were purchased later, the college staff is unable to operate them.
The department had seven teachers some years back while at present only two are left with the department. Both have not been given the training needed for the latest machinery.
Owing to non-availability of technical hands and lack of teaching staff, heavy machines purchased for millions of rupees were lying packed in different departments. Students and teachers fear the new machines would get rusted if not used and maintained properly.
Ironically, the machine shop, where maximum practical works are carried out, has no mechanic. In case of any fault, the peon tries to repair machines.
The college building has developed cracks. Due to poor condition of lavatories, students use toilets situated along a mosque.
The post of director physical education has been vacant and sports activities have come to a halt. Students said the administration complained of funds shortage but never allowed sponsors to finance sports activities.
In diesel department, the number of staff has been reduced from 17 to six. The short supply of diesel to the department cannot meet the practical need. The hostel facility has been in the use of Rangers personnel.
The principal was not available for comments and the vice-principal was reluctant to explain anything. When asked, he said there was no need of hostel now, as people from different cities no more came to study here.
KARACHI, Dec 3: Owing to the negligence of government officials and shortage of teaching staff in many colleges in SITE Town have not been able to introduced degree courses since their inception.
