KHAR: The Government Degree College Barkholozo in Mamond tehsil of Bajaur Agency was reopened after eight years.

An official told this scribe that the college, the only institution of higher education for over 0.3 million population of Mamond tehsil, was closed in August 2008 after the launch of military operation in the region. He said that the college was renovated after security forces vacated its building few weeks ago. The official said that after reopening of the college, all the students, who were shifted at the building of Government College of Technology in Inayat Kallay, returned to it and resumed their educational activities.

According to the official, the college was rehabilitated and fully equipped to provide a better learning environment to the students. He said that the college was provided with basic needs, modern equipment and new furniture. The official said that canteen and drinking water facility were also provided to the college besides setting up a playground.

The students belonging to different areas of Mamond tehisl welcomed reopening of the college and expressed the hope that the step would help to provide quality education to them.

They said that reopening of the college was their longstanding demand for which they had staged a number of protests. “We are very glad over reopening of our college as closure of the college affected our studies. Most of the students belong to far-flung areas and they were unable to go to Inayat Kallay,” said Imran Khan, a student of the college.

The students claimed that the college was reopened as results of their protests because the administration was not ready to reopen it. They also complained about lack of some basic needs in the college. “Besides, lack of basic needs, we also face shortage of teaching staff in the college which affects our studies,” they added.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2015