KARACHI: A batch of girl students of the Government College, Nazimabad, yesterday demonstrated for two hours before the office of the Director of Education demanding the restoration of co-education in the college. The admission of girl students to the Government College has been stopped from this academic session; and those who are already on the rolls have been asked to seek admission elsewhere.

The Director of Education, Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, after a great deal of persuasion was allowed to enter his room; it was blocked by the girl students who were shouting slogans against him. Later, a deputation of the protesting students discussed the matter relating to the admission with the Director of Education in which they pointed out that private colleges would charge higher fee if they were admitted there.

Mr Mustafa assured them that “not a single girl student will remain without admission; it is my responsibility that they do not lose their precious year,” he promised. He also told the deputationists that “this decision of discontinuing co-education had to be taken in order to save the college from moral bankruptcy; and for the restoration of a healthy academic atmosphere there”.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2014