KARACHI, Sept 24: About 150 cooperative teachers are likely to be appointed at 20 newly-established colleges in the city.

Speaking at a press briefing held in connection with the release of admission list of first year pre-medical classes, Prof Rais Alvi, EDO (Higher Education), said that the city government had approved a special grant of over Rs 10 million in order to ensure facilities at newly established colleges and to appoint teachers there.

Since the colleges established during the last two years have not been able to generate sufficient funds, the principals of the colleges would be allowed to utilize a portion of the grant promised by the city government on appointment of cooperative teachers, Prof Alvi, said, adding about 150 teachers are needed for 20 colleges. Among them, 10 colleges would be starting their first year classes from the ensuing session.

He said that cooperative teachers would be paid Rs 4,000 each. A number of colleges, engaging cooperative teachers every year, pay remuneration from their private fund.

To another question, he said at present students being admitted to the first year classes were not being charged any separate fee for computer education. In the past, students had to pay an amount of Rs 500 as computer fee, but in view of the fact that the Sindh government was unable to provide required computers and manpower at every college of the province, the recovery of fee had been deferred.

However, the EDO informed that a summary had been the sent to the secretary of the Sindh education department for grant of permission to colleges to charge Rs 200 per student once in a year so that maintenance of the existing computer laboratories and establishment of new ones at the left-over colleges could be ensured till any new allocation from the government.

He said at present computer laboratories were available at 84 out of 136 government colleges, which needed proper maintenance in order to avoid rust. About the admission process, Prof Alvi said that admissions to Home Economics and Computer Science classes have almost been finalized, while teaching for new entrants at Ra'ana Liaquat Ali Khan College of Home Economics has begun.

He said the admission committee through its six centres set up at different colleges had received 400 claims forms from students seeking changes to their placement while over 220 cases have been finalized.