PESHAWAR, Jan 5: Students have voiced concern over transfer of diploma courses from the Postgraduate Paramedical Institute, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, to Abbottabad, Swat and Dera Ismail Khan.

They say the step will deprive thousands of paramedics of an educational facility near their places of work.

"The government has shifted two-year diploma courses from the Postgraduate Paramedical Institute (PGPI), Peshawar, to the undergraduate paramedical institutes in Dera Ismail Khan, Swat and Abbottabad," said a representative of the paramedical association, adding that this decision had not only hit the students but also many aspirants.

They say it was difficult for the students of Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda, Swabi, Nowshera and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas to take admission in the far-flung areas of the province.

The postgraduate institute, which has launched graduate courses, attributes the shifting of diploma courses to the lack of space on its premises. "We cannot accommodate 250 students of degree courses at the PGPI with those of diploma seekers," said an official at the institute.

Towards the end of 2004, the PGPI started the degree courses, but shortage of rooms prompted the authorities concerned to shift the venue of diploma courses. Students say the current badge of the diploma course consists of 60 per cent in-service paramedics and 40 per cent fresh FSc students.

"It's difficult for us to stay away from our homes, because we would miss our children and our expenditure would increase. This problem is even bigger for women students who would suffer a lot while staying in far-off cities," said some paramedics.