RAWALPINDI, Feb 8: Irregularities have been detected in admissions to intermediate classes in government-run colleges in the city, which could have deprived many pupils of their chance to continue education , an investigation conducted by the district government's education department revealed.

Sources in the office of district officer (education) citing the investigation report said most of the colleges did not increase the number of seats as prescribed under rules.

They said the rules called for an annual 10 per cent increase in the number of seats for every combination of subjects. Most of the colleges, however, ignored the condition whereas others partially implemented it.

Due to the violation, the colleges failed to cope with the demands of growing population and hundreds of students annually remained out of colleges. The probe said several colleges did not fill the quota for the disabled, who are entitled to a 2 per cent quota. Whereas in certain instances, non-deserving candidates using fake medical certificates benefited from the facility.

Same was the case for the 2 per cent sports quota in arts subjects. The policy was announced well in time but most of the institutions did not follow it and seats for sportsmen remained unfilled.

The investigation indicated that clerical staff of some of the colleges were involved in the admission-related wrongdoings.

The sources said some students were admitted to colleges without admission forms registered and countersigned by the officials concerned. Besides, there was no record of their dates of admission and payment of fees, but their names somehow appeared on the college rolls.

Examples of dubious entries were also disclosed, it was learnt. The sources said during the course of investigation it transpired that some of the colleges had unofficially admitted some students whom they called casual students. Fees had been received from them but it were not recorded.

The sources while mentioning other problems related to admissions said the colleges manipulated the cut-off merit due to which a large number of students failed to get admission.

Initially, the merit remains very high as students apply in more than one institutions. However, after they got admission to the institutions of their choices, the vacant seats were not notified and the applicants were told that there were no vacant seats.

Later, the authorities on the last date set by the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education for admission, accommodated well-connected students having lower merit at the cost of others. In certain instances, seats were left vacant just for showing a high merit for the institution.