KARACHI, Aug 26: The only government-run degree college in Orangi Town, Government Degree Science and Commerce College, also known as Govt Abdul Hamid Badayuni College has become an excellent example of the authorities’ neglect as it is facing acute shortage of faculty, besides funds for maintenance of the building and provision of furniture.

Students of the said college says that owing to the absence of any boundary wall around the college, it has become a public place especially for children, who used to play cricket and other games in the college premises.

According to them, these outsiders, who have not left any window, door and furniture of the college intact, have ruined the college building and property. The students are of the view that the college looks more like an abandoned building than an educational institution.

Drug addicts consider Govt. Degree Science and Commerce College as heaven to fulfil their desires.

“Nothing has been left in the Botany and Zoology laboratories of the college by these drug addicts and other people who move freely in the college premises as there is no guard to protect the building and its property,” Muhammad Asif Iqbal, a student complained.

Besides, dilapidated condition of the college building and absence of teaching equipment, college is facing acute shortage of subject teachers due to which majority of students refrain from attending classes.

“Many of the teachers posted at this institute get themselves transferred to other colleges and institutions after seeing that nobody cares about improving the condition of this college,” a faculty member said. Despite tall claims and pledges by the authorities, nothing was done for provision of funds or required staff at the college, he added.

According to him, the college administration has taken various steps despite resource constraints to improve standard of education while ensuring attendance and punctuality of staff and students during the last academic session. Owing to these steps, students had once again started attending classes, the faculty member claimed.

On the other hand, students say that they are compelled to take admissions in various tuition centres to complete their courses, as classes are not being held at the institution due to paucity of faculty and equipment at science labs.

They say that the MNAs and MPAs elected from the area besides EDO Colleges had pledged on several occasions during their visits to the college that conditions would be improved and shortage of teachers would be overcome by transferring teachers from other colleges. However, the situation has not improved so far.

Students charge that the college administration is even unable to provide drinking water owing to the unavailability of resources. They add that toilets in the college have also been ruined by outsiders, particularly drug addicts.

They claim that they had approached City Nazim Naimatullah Khan to apprise him of the poor condition of the college and invited him to visit the college. However, they add, despite passage of several weeks, City Nazim is still unable to visit the area or the college, perhaps due to his various engagements.—PPI