KOHAT: The college lecturers took out rallies in Kohat, Timergara and Lakki Marwat against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s plan to privatise the government colleges and put them under the board of governors.

In Kohat, the participants started march from the boys’ degree college on Rawalpindi Road and gathered in front of the Kohat Press Club. The staff from Hangu and Karak districts also participated in the protest.

Speaking on the occasion, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Professors and Lecturers Association, Kohat chapter, president Abdul Jalil and secretary general Sajjad Khan warned that if the decision was not withdrawn they would protest in front of the Chief Minister’s House.

The speakers said that privatization of colleges would block the opportunities of getting higher studies for the students and make the education out of the reach of poor people.

Hold rallies in Kohat, Timergara and Lakki Marwat

Talking to this scribe, Professor Jalil said that now the Bachelor of Science student was getting complete education and degree in Rs5,000 whereas after privatisation the fee would reach Rs20,000. He said that after becoming autonomous like universities the colleges would have to generate salaries and other expenses from the students’ fees.

In Timergara, scores of teachers of government colleges and students from Lower and Upper Dir on Thursday came out on the road and protested against the proposed establishment of joint management council (JMC) by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.

The protest was held on the call of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Professors and Lecturers Association. The college teachers marched on the road from Balambat and gathered in front of Timergara press club.

On this occasion, chairman of provincial action committee of the association Prof Jamshid Khan and others alleged that the KP government wanted to privatise education in the province gradually.

In Lakki Marwat, the college teachers took out a procession to record their protest against the government’s plan to privatise colleges.

The teachers of government Postgraduate College, Lakki, and government degree colleges in Eesakkhel, Ghaznikhel and Naurang along with the students participated in the procession. A local teachers’ leader Ikramullah led the procession.

They said that the PTI-led provincial government wanted to deprive the poor students of opportunities of higher education.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2017