LAHORE, Sept 15 A vast majority of the principals of the colleges identified as poor-performing institutions in the backdrop of BA/BSc annual examinations for 2009, have blamed it on the shortage of teaching staff and a lack of interest among faculty members and students.

Most of the poor performers have flunked English - either because of their lack of exposure to language learning or inability and limited resources of their teachers to impart knowledge of the subject.

The Punjab Higher Education Department had identified 26 colleges that showed less than 10 per cent results in the Punjab University's BA/BSc annual examinations for 2009, declared on July 15. Fourteen of these colleges had shown zero per cent results.

The higher education department had issued show-cause notices to the principals of these colleges to explain away their positions. Almost 70 per cent of them (17 colleges) have stated that the required number of teachers is not available in colleges “for which the higher education department is responsible.”

The Government College Bochal Khan, Chakwal showed zero per cent results. Its principal Muhammad Ijaz Janjua said teachers were not available for mathematics, statistics and economics.

Rana Zulfiqar Ali Khan, the principal of the Government College, Bhaipheru (zero per cent results) said most students failed in English. He said the college was without English teacher because the lecturer posted had been absent from duty since Aug 15, 2008.

The principal of the Government Taleemul Islam College, Chenabnagar, Chiniot (7.69 per cent results) said only two teachers were available for English.

Principal Ziaul Hassan of the Government Farid Bakhsh Ghausia Degree Science College, Faridabad, T.T. Singh (8.57 per cent) said the students' intake level was low and there was a shortage of staff in the subject of English.

Principal Amra Cheema of the Government College for Women, Satellite Town, Gujranwala (zero per cent) said three students out of five failed in statistics, for which lecturer was not available.

The Government College Chak No 170/JB, Jhang also showed zero per cent results and its principal Nasir Ahmad Khan said the students failed in English because of “non-serious attitude of the English teachers.”

Principal Nusrat Masud of the Government College for Women, Dina, Jhelum (zero per cent) said it was the first batch of BSc students and only one English teacher was available for 500 students.

The Government College, Kamoke showed five per cent results. Its principal Salman Bashir Nagi said the posts of lecturer and assistant professor in English had been vacant.

Another disaster was Government P.S.T. College, Kamalia (zero per cent). Its principal Zaair Hussain blamed it on a shortage of staff. He said only 19 teachers were available against the 39 sanctioned posts.

Principal Nadeem Akhtar Siddiqui of the Government Degree College for Boys, Raiwind, Lahore (BA four per cent and BSc zero per cent) said no lecturer was available to teach English until October 2008. Similarly, he said, there was no lecturer available for mathematics.

The Government MAO College, Lahore also cut a sorry figure with 8.75 per cent results. Explaining his position, its principal Prof Zafarul Mohsin Pirzada said the faculty members at college were not taking interest in their profession.

Al-Beruni Government College, Pind Dadan Khan (7.69 per cent) has somewhat similar story, with its principal Nuzhatur Rehman Ranjha passing the buck on the English teacher for “not taking interest in teaching his students.” He also said no teacher was available in the subject of mathematics.

Muhammad Arif Tarar, the principal of the Government P.Y.S Degree College, Phalia, Mandi Bahauddin (zero per cent) said only one English teacher was available. “He doesn't take interest in his duty.”

Principal Dr Sikandar Hayat of the Government College, Shakargarh (zero per cent) said there was a shortage of science staff. He also said the college received poor level of students at the intake level.

Government College, Sheikhupura, (zero per cent), principal Abdul Latif Mughal said the English department did not take its duty seriously and most of the students failed in the subject.

Principal Akhtar Jameel of the Government Allama Iqbal College for Women also blamed 9.52 per cent results on shortage of staff.

Most students of the Government College, Samundri (five per cent) failed in chemistry. “The chemistry teachers didn't take interest in classes,” alleged principal Dr Khalid Zafar Daoodi.Principal Abdul Qayyum of the Government Degree College, Jaranwala said examinations were held one month earlier resulting in poor performance (9.09 per cent) by the students.

Prof Muhammad Zahid Butt is the principal of the Government Shalimar College, Baghbanpura and has been posted Gujranwala board chairman. “The academic session was too short and results achieved (eight per cent) were unexpected for him,” he took the plea.

Muhammad Zafarullah Kaloon, the principal of the Government College, Gojra (7.14 per cent) explained that since 41 candidates were absent out of the 112 enrolled, the results should be read as 11.26 per cent.

The principals of the four colleges shifted the blame on the students for showing carefree attitude. The only student who appeared from the Government College of Science, Wahdat Road failed, making its principal Qazi Ikram Bashir blaming him for “casual attitude and not attending his classes”. He said he sent the student's admission to the university despite opposition by the teachers.

Principal Muhammad Anwar Saeed of the Government Degree College, Pattoki (zero per cent) said most students failed in chemistry. He said the students failed because “they belong to the Factory Area and have low calibre.”

Government Allama Iqbal College, Sialkot (zero per cent) principal Sirajul Haq said the only student could not perform because of illness.

Government Jinnah Islamia College, Sialkot (zero per cent) principal Imtiaz Khalid said most of the students failed in English because they could not adjust with new teachers.

Interestingly, Government College Asghar Mall, Rawalpindi (zero per cent) principal Prof Muhammad Aleemuddin and G.I.C Chiniot (8.33 per cent) principal Zulfiqar Ali admitted their failure as heads of the institutes.Considering these facts, sources told Dawn, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif did not take action at the outset and instead constituted another five-member inquiry committee to hold personal hearings of all the principals and take action at the individual level while considering the ground realities.

The committee convened by Punjab Education Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman comprises Additional Chief Secretary Javed Aslam, Secretary Services Sikandar Sultan, Higher Education Secretary Ahad Khan Cheema and DPI (Colleges) Punjab Abdul Razzaq Cheema.