Girls in Bara face shrinking access to higher education

PESHAWAR: More than 600,000 people in Bara tehsil of Khyber tribal district are served by only one government girls’ degree college, where students say the shortage of facilities, limited academic options, transport problems and security concerns are undermining access to higher education.

Students, parents and local elders have urged the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government and the Higher Education Department to introduce four-year BS programmes, set up modern laboratories, arrange official transport and ensure permanent faculty appointments so that female students in the area can continue their education.

Najma Abdullah, an Associate Degree in Urdu student at Government Girls Degree College Bara and a resident of Malik Din Khel, said the absence of transport had forced her to stay at her grandmother’s home near the college because her own house is far away. She said she had enrolled in the Microbiology programme three years ago, but it was later discontinued because affiliation was not available, costing her three academic years.

"There is no shortage of talent among the girls of Bara, but poverty, transport problems and lack of higher education facilities compel most students to drop out midway," she added.

Najma said she had wanted to pursue BS Biology but instead joined AD Urdu because the college does not offer science programmes. She also called for government buses, saying many girls walk long distances to attend classes, which she described as tiring and unsafe.

Another student, Sonia Abdul Jaleel, said some issues had been addressed to an extent since the college was established, but major shortcomings remained. She said the college still lacked proper science laboratories, furniture, fans and adequate security. She added that the absence of a playground was also a significant issue for students.

Asma Batool, a student from Orakzai district, said she had wanted to study BS Computer Science but faced similar difficulties. "There is no official pick-and-drop facility, and due to the overall security situation in the area, both students and parents feel insecure," she informed.

A minimum of 20 students is required to start a BS programme in any subject. At present, the college is running only an Associate Degree in Arts (Urdu) with 20 students, while 382 girls are enrolled in first and second year combined.

College administration officials said the main obstacle to launching BS programmes was the absence of BS-level laboratories and the required infrastructure. They said the current labs had been provided under a Higher Education project, but full BS programmes would need separate and modern laboratories for Computer Science, Biology, Chemistry and other disciplines.

Officials promise staffing, transport and security measures

MPA and District Development Advisory Committee Khyber Chairman Abdul Ghani Afridi said the college had previously been operating under a PMU project, but its regular SNA had now been approved. He said permanent hiring of teaching and non-teaching staff, including lecturers, class-IV employees, drivers and accounts staff, would be completed soon.

Afridi said the college had already been solarised and furniture had been provided, adding that any remaining gaps would be addressed on a priority basis. He said steps were also being taken to start four-year BS programmes, including the provision of laboratories and other required facilities.

On transport, he said work was under way to provide buses for the college. On security, he said instructions had been issued to the district police officer in Khyber to increase police deployment at the institution.

"The government is committed to turning Government Girls Degree College Bara into a standard educational institution so that the daughters of the area can acquire higher education in a safe and conducive environment," he concluded.