KARACHI, Jan 28: Keeping in view the declining number of students enrolled at city degree colleges for BSc (Pass) programmes, the city government's education department has decided to reduce the status of 16 out of 26 degree colleges to intermediate level and utilize the workforce , employed at these colleges, to run BSc programmes more effectively.

An official of the education department told PPI on Wednesday that City Nazim Naimatullah Khan had sought a report on decline in enrolment of students for BSc programmes at city's degree colleges, besides number of students and detail of teaching and non-teaching staff employed at 26 degree colleges in the city.

"Students are showing less interest in enrolling themselves at degree colleges for BSc (Pass) programme in the last five years," the official said. According to him, in 1999, over 10,000 students enrolled themselves at city's 26 degree colleges, which was reduced to less then 2,000 in 2003 and even lesser number of students were expected to enrol themselves for the academic session, 2004-05.

Out of 26 city degree colleges, 16 were expected to be closed and their staff would be transferred to the remaining 10 colleges, the official said. Prof Syed Riaz Ahsan, who is an office-bearer of the Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association, when approached for his views on the issue, confirmed that students were taking less interest in BSc (pass) programme as compared to their interest in BCom and BBA (Hons) programmes, started recently at city degree colleges.

He said closing of degree sections at 16 colleges, would not be objectionable, as better utilization of resources would help improve education standards.