RAWALPINDI: Despite tall claims made by the Punjab higher education department, colleges in the Rawalpindi district have failed to improve enrolment. At present, the number of students enrolled with the government-run 40 colleges stands almost the same as it was five years ago, it has been learnt.

In 2009, as many as 24,080 students got admissions to the colleges whereas in 2013 the number stands at 24,274.

“I admit the number of students in government-run colleges should have increased but now we have started taking measures to improve the enrolment,” said Director Colleges Professor Humayun Iqbal.

He said for improving the strength in the colleges, his office was going to impose a strict policy on disciple in the colleges.

“By all means, our colleges are the best than the private institutions. We have best infrastructure, best teachers etc…however, I agree discipline in the government colleges is a grave issue.”

The director colleges said steps were being taken to improve enrolments. “For the first-year students, we have set up guidance and counselling centres while in September we are also going to start evening classes in at least eight colleges of the district, offering MA in various disciplines. These steps will improve our strength,” he said.

Professor Liaqat Abbasi, President Punjab Professors and Lecturers Association, Rawalpindi Division, said the enrolment ratio in government colleges was still low as compared to private institutions where it was improving day by day.

“The government should take immediate steps to improve standard of the education in the colleges,” he said.

The association president said colleges lacked basic facilities and also faced shortage of teachers that forced students to take admissions in private institutions.

According to documents, there are 1,225 sanctioned posts of (BPS 17 to 20) in 40 colleges. Out of them, 488 have been lying vacant for the last many years.

“The shortage of staff is also one of the major reasons for students to opt for private institutions,” said Mohammad Yasin, a lecturer at Gordon College.

The vacant posts include 45 seats for Urdu professors/lecturers, 57 for English, nine positions for biology, 17 for history, 10 for botany and eight for Arabic.

Besides, 20 positions of lecturers/professors for chemistry, 11 for civic, five for commerce teachers, nine for economic teachers and 13 positions for physiology have been lying unfilled for the last many years.

However, director colleges said: “No doubt, we are facing shortage of staff, but it does not mean that students are suffering due to shortage of teachers as against the regular posts we have hired internee teachers, who are teaching with full dedication.”

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2014