MINGORA: The girl students and their parents have lauded the higher education department for giving approval to Government Postgraduate Girls College Saidu Sharif to start BS programme in more subjects.

The students and their parents had earlier protested lack of their desired subjects in the BS programme at the lone postgraduate for girls in the area.

The newly-approved disciplines in the BS programme of the college include chemistry, botany, psychology, computer science and mathematics while BS classes in English, zoology and Islamiyat were already in progress in the college.

The students said that previously it was difficult for them to get higher education as they would have to go to Swat University of Government Jahanzeb College for boys where they had to take joint classes with boys.

“Due to cultural barriers, parents did not allow their daughters to study with boys owing to which majority of girls were deprived of getting higher education. Now with the approval of BS classes of our desired subjects, girls will be able to get higher education,” said Seema, a student who wanted to get admission in BS chemistry. She added that she and her friends were excited to have BS classes at their colleges.

Iqra, another student, who sought admission in BS English, was also happy, saying she missed one year because her family did not allow her to study with boys. “I am taking admission in BS English here in the girls’ college and will happily pursue my dream of getting higher education,” she added.

The parents of the students also lauded the approval and said

that for them paying high fees at the university was also one of the hurdles to educate their daughters.

“I am happy to send my daughter to this college because it is nearby so I will not have to pay transport charges besides the fee is nominal here. This is a good decision of the government that will help more girls to get higher education,” said Mohammad Afzal.

Nargis Ara, the principal of the college, said that she was grateful to the director of higher education department for approving BS classes in five more subjects at the college.

However, she said that the college was short of teachers and she expected that the government would soon provide enough teaching staff and resources to the college.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2018