PESHAWAR: Academic session at newly established Mamad Ghat Cadet College in Mohmand tribal district would be started from April 2020, said an official statement here on Thursday.

Presiding over a meeting of the board of governors, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan directed the finance department to release the allocated funds of Rs111 million to start academic activities in the college from next year.

He also directed that 20 seats per class for Mohmand and Bajaur tribal districts each should be allocated in the college while 10 seats per class for Khyber tribal district, 10 seats for the wards of martyrs and 20 seats per class for open merit all over the country should be allocated.

The chief minister said that two special seats for the wards of martyrs should be allotted on open merit instead of self-finance to facilitate their families. He said that all cadet colleges would convene meetings of the board of governors every year, so as their problems and requirements could be addressed timely.

The meeting was briefed in details about the facilities available at Mamad Ghat Cadet College, proposed timeline for commissioning of the college and related issues. The meeting was informed that grade 8th and 11th were planned to be launched in April 2020 and phase wise increase in the number of cadets had also been proposed.

It was informed that 80 cadets would be enrolled in grade 8th and 80 in 11th for academic year 2020-21. Similarly, 80 cadets will be given admission in grade 9th for the year 2021-22 and grade 10th will be started in the year 2022-23, for which 80 seats will be allocated, thus the total strength of cadets in the college would reach 400.

Mr Khan agreed with the proposed planned and directed the college administration to start educational activities from April. The meeting was informed about the proposed fee structure for the first nine years of the college, under which cadets from tribal districts Mohmand and Bajaur would be provided education free of cost for the first three years, and then only 25 per cent of the total fee for the next two years would be charged.

Similarly, it was proposed that 50 per cent of total fee would be charged during the 6th and 7th years and 75 per cent during the 8th and 9th years, while 100 per cent fee would be charged in 10th year and onward. The cadets on open merit would have to pay 100 per cent fee, however, the wards of martyrs would get the facility of education free of cost.

Meanwhile, the chief minister chaired a meeting of board of governors of Swat Cadet College. He was briefed about the academic profile 2018-19, capacity enhancement and redistribution of additional seats, budget and other allied matters of the Swat Cadet College. The meeting approved increase in strength of students from 100 to 120 cadets in a phased programme of three years.

The meeting was informed that for the next three years Swat Cadet College would require an academic grant of Rs20 million to meet the requirements. Proposal of 10 per cent increase in basic pay for the employees of the college with subject to financial viability of the college was approved.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2019