KARACHI, April 12: Intermediate classes at a women’s college could not resume despite more than a month after the college principal laid off the cooperative teachers. Sources in the college said the newly established Government College for Women in Sector 11-I in North Karachi hired ad-hoc teachers for arts, commerce and science classes. They said eight teachers appointed to teach arts and commerce classes were dismissed a couple of months ago without citing any reason.

The students protested to the college administration that their studies were affected. Instead of appointing teachers, the college administration fired the remaining teachers and stopped classes advising students to stay at home and collect their admit cards before the examination from the college.

The students and their parents approached the higher education authorities and the matter was reported in the media following which the director general colleges took notice. He instituted two inquiries to probe the matter.

Director General Colleges Sindh Dr Mohammad Ali Shaikh told Dawn that so far the inquiry report had not been submitted to him. He said he had directed the principal to re-appoint teachers for a month and resume classes as the exams were to be held in May. He said the cooperative teachers were hired from the fund allocated to the college in question and the principal said that the teachers were laid off after the funds ran short.

Despite the the Director General Colleges orders, the principal has not reappointed teachers and classes have not resumed. Students and their concerned parents visit the college frequently but return in disappointment.

Dr Mohammad Ali Shaikh said some discrepancies were brought to his notice and he would take action as soon as the inquiry report was submitted to him.