Sihala college yet to be opened

The only boys’ degree college in the rural areas of Islamabad has been waiting to be inaugurated for the last two years, all because of a minor boundary wall issue.

The Federal Directorate of Education has failed to resolve a minor boundary wall issue which is the only reason classes are not starting at Sihala Degree College.

A teacher at the Sihala School, located next to the college, said the boundary wall was encroached on by a local who has been taking stay orders from the court for the last two years.

The teacher said, “Unfortunately, our department did not pursue the case so that the court could arrive at a decision on the matter”.

However, the Secretary of Capital Administration and Development Division, Khalid Hanif, said classes will start within 15 days and that the boundary wall issue will be taken up after classes have started. He said,

“The matter is in court. Meanwhile we decided to hold classes in the building even without the boundary wall on one side.”

The college, which was built at a cost of Rs149 million, was meant to cater to the hundreds of students in rural areas, who now have to travel many kilometres everyday to study at colleges in Islamabad or Rawalpindi.

U-19 debate trophy comes to capital

The Westminster School brought the prestigious Raziuddin Shaikh All Pakistan Under-19 Debating Championship trophy to Islamabad.

Hosted by the Debating Society of Pakistan, the final round was held at the Learning Alliance School, Lahore where teams debated whether progressives in Pakistan should use Islamic traditions to get support for progressive reform.

Some 48 teams participated in the competition which was divided into four preliminary rounds to short list 16 teams.

The Westminster School Islamabad and Lahore Grammar School Defence made it to the finals.

The Westminster team, that included Amnah Ejaz Khan, Mohammad Ali Khan and Sardar Nadir Mahmood Sadiq brought home the championship trophy.

The Director of Westminster School, Raheel S. Khan, said, “Team Westminster has brought a great honour to Islamabad. It is a great achievement for our team to beat well established teams from reputed institutions

Different schools sent in their teams, including Karachi Grammar School, Aitchison College, Beaconhouse School System, FC College, LGS, LACAS, Learning Alliance, SICAS, City School and Lyceum Karachi.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2015