ISLAMABAD, Aug 14: Girls Degree College sector I-8/3 is the only college of the Federal Capital, which is working under the umbrella of Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) and is running through donations and aid of private personalities.

Besides, there are just 26 teachers for 700 students due to which teachers cannot give proper attention to students, Dawn has learnt.

According to sources, the college was opened for political and bureaucratic scoring in August, 2009.

The then federal minister for education Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani inaugurated this institution and regarded it a milestone towards promotion of education in the country.

However, this institution is no less than a mockery on the face of FDE because without teaching staff and non-teaching staff/administrative machinery like ground men, chowkidars and drivers, no academic work was possible, even after the expiry of more than 3 years, sources said

The only motive of FDE administrators behind inauguration of this institution in an extreme hurry was no more than personal projection and befooling of higher ups.

The worst sufferers are the students and the principal who are continuously facing the music in the shape of criticism from parents and inability to perform their academic functions.

An officer of FDE requesting not to be identified, said no budget allocation in different heads has been made in the name of this institution to meet its running expenditures.

Even the utility bills are paid from the petty sum the institution receives as fee from a very small number of students.

Everywhere the prestigious principal of the college, Metlo Hamida Qais, seems begging for donations and college staff for the college. The discrimination with F.G. institutions should be stopped now, he demanded.

This correspondent was told that after its inauguration in 2009, academic work started with 7 teachers (all borrowed on request from other girls colleges) and 6 internees who were not trained enough to take regular classes without guidance from seniors.

Similarly, now there is neither a library nor a librarian, which is the best symbolic representation of a body without brain.

Ali Imran, father of a student said that he was not satisfied at all with the studies. “My daughter does not seem to have such intelligence and mental quickness as students of other schools have.”

A teacher of the college, said that at present, 26 teachers are running the academic functions; 14 teachers on temporary duty from other colleges, 2 teachers are on deputation from provinces and 10 teachers from different schools.

There are complaints against school teachers’ because it is difficult for them to meet demands of intermediate and degree level students.

There is one bus provided to the college but without driver and conductor, no female sweeper, no accountant and female accountant clerk, no laboratory assistant and laboratory attendant.

The borrowed non-teaching staff from other colleges include, only one chowkidar for this big building for 24 hours, one ground man, admin officer, head clerk, a clerk, a gardener, an attendant.

According to one reliable source, it was learnt that one generous elderly man, Haji Sheikh Jan, living in the neighbourhood to the college sent his gardener for doing plantation work, outside the boundary wall. Even levelling inside the campus has been done with his donation.

Nisar Enterprises have made a sick room for girls, and Muhammad Ali, Director, Strongman Company has provided a stretcher and a wheel chair for the sick room.

Another donor, Akhtar Khan has set a prayer-room for the girls. Principal approached Pak Korea Trust, which also donated 20 computers through Ministry of Minorities and late Minister Shahbaz Bhatti handed over the computers in 2010.

IMCG, I-10/4, IMS, G-8 and Margalla College have donated some science equipment for laboratories but the equipment was insufficient to establish laboratories.

So no science subject is offered. About 700 students are on roll of the college and only humanity subjects are being offered at intermediate and degree levels because practical facilities are not available.

A teacher of the college requesting anonymity said that Punjab University has refused to give affiliation to the college because the college does not meet the minimum criteria of sanctioned post of teachers, library, number of books, etc., due to which admission of students of the college have been sent through F-7/2, G-10/4 and Humak Colleges.

Professor Khalida Makhdum, Senior Vice President, Federal Government College Teachers Association (FGCTA), said the slogans regarding promotion of female education are raised from every nook and corner but this is proof of the rulers and bureaucrats’ indifference towards education.

Expressing deep concern on the plight of education in the country, she said, if this is the condition of an educational institution in the capital, what can be the condition of schools and colleges in the hardest hit areas.

Professor Yasmeen Bokhari, Vice President, FGCTA, said that this indifference for the cause of education on part of rulers and FDE has to be replaced with dedication, sincerity and will power.

She demanded that before the new session starts after Eid, the college should immediately assign posts of teaching and non-teaching staff.

The routine of continuous borrowing of teaching staff to pass time should be immediately stopped. It is against the interest as well as dignity of an institution.

Spokesman of FGCTA, Prof Tahir Mahmood said that FDE and Ministry of CAD should take notice of the condition of Degree College and assure solution of its problems.