SAHIWAL: The Higher Education Department has asked public sector colleges across the province to ensure 20 per cent more admissions in intermediate this year.

Sahiwal Government College Principal Dr Mumtaz Ahmad confirmed receiving the HED direction.

Sources close to the situation say the admission target last year was 600,000 but hardly 500,000 students could be admitted. This year the target has been increased to 800,000.

A source close to the DPI Colleges, Lahore, also confirmed the issuance of admission target.

The HED had, a week ago, warned several principals in Gujranwala, Sargodha and other divisions through the concerned Directorate of Colleges to improve admissions. The move drew criticism from the Punjab Professors and Lecturers Association (PPLA)

The Punjab Board Committee of Chairmen (PBCC) has already announced online admission schedule for Intermediate Part I, session 2024-26, after declaration of metric results.

This schedule is applicable to all public sector colleges in Punjab. The regular admission process will continue till Aug 20 and with late fee the deadline is Oct 10, 2014.

Sources say most of the public sector colleges have already completed their first-year admission and presently conducting interviews for different disciplines.

PPLA President Ms Faiza Rana said without an admission schedule from PBCC, it is illogical to seek explanation from principals for low admissions.

She said to counter low admissions in public sector colleges authorities have to see each case at the college-to-college or district-to-district level basis.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2024