An open letter to Imran Khan
HARIPUR: We, the students and faculty members of Post-Graduate Government College, Haripur, would like to bring to the attention of the PTI chief, Imran Khan, that the government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa seems to have started a crackdown on progressive educationists. In addition, the gains made through reforms in curricula and introduction of co-education at the district level colleges are also at risk. Our college is the first case in this regard. We would like to give a brief summary of developments that took place in the college over the last three years, which are now at risk.
Pioneering reforms were introduced in the college, including the introduction of 11 new disciplines, such as information technology, electronics, zoology, political science, physics, economics, statistics, English, mathematics, and gender studies. Also, a four-year bachelor’s programme was also introduced, along with co-education (over 60 per cent of the student body consists of females). The faculty for these disciplines was developed and special efforts were made to enrol female students. In addition, art, music and sports societies were established to mentor and nurture students’ creative abilities.
Within two months of formation of the PTI government in the province, the college principal, who pioneered these reforms, was transferred and Mr Mumtaz Khan replaced him, who is a nominee of Mr Yousaf Ayub Khan, a PTI minister from Haripur. Mr Khan is trying to rollback these reforms through the following actions: 1) barring female faculty members from entering the college building without any reason; 2) expulsion of female staff and students from the college hostel; and 3) denial of admission to new students at the Malala Centre of Excellence in Gender Studies.
We understand that the PTI believes in gender equality and supports an educational policy that produces scholars and professionals to deal with this grave issue. We believe that the PTI is not against equal education opportunities for girls and boys, and co-education. We also understand that the PTI believes in promoting scientific, technological and social advancement through education. With this understanding, we strongly oppose the abovementioned regressive actions and demand the following: 1) complete support to the Malala Centre of Excellence in Gender Studies and continuation of co-education in the college; 2) continuing with the residing female staff and students in the college accommodation; 3) regularisation of all contractual staff recruited for teaching in the new disciplines; and 4) immediate cancellation of transfer of the previous college principal, Professor Shah Jahan, and Professor Tariq Chughtai, director academic enhancement programme, who introduced the abovementioned reforms.
We strongly urge that these efforts that were three years in the making should not go down the drain and the future of students of the college should be protected.
Students and faculty,
Post-Graduate Government College
Published in The Express Tribune, July 30th, 2013.
HARIPUR: We, the students and faculty members of Post-Graduate Government College, Haripur, would like to bring to the attention of the PTI chief, Imran Khan, that the government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa seems to have started a crackdown on progressive educationists. In addition, the gains made through reforms in curricula and introduction of co-education at the district level colleges are also at risk. Our college is the first case in this regard. We would like to give a brief summary of developments that took place in the college over the last three years, which are now at risk.
Pioneering reforms were introduced in the college, including the introduction of 11 new disciplines, such as information technology, electronics, zoology, political science, physics, economics, statistics, English, mathematics, and gender studies. Also, a four-year bachelor’s programme was also introduced, along with co-education (over 60 per cent of the student body consists of females). The faculty for these disciplines was developed and special efforts were made to enrol female students. In addition, art, music and sports societies were established to mentor and nurture students’ creative abilities.
Within two months of formation of the PTI government in the province, the college principal, who pioneered these reforms, was transferred and Mr Mumtaz Khan replaced him, who is a nominee of Mr Yousaf Ayub Khan, a PTI minister from Haripur. Mr Khan is trying to rollback these reforms through the following actions: 1) barring female faculty members from entering the college building without any reason; 2) expulsion of female staff and students from the college hostel; and 3) denial of admission to new students at the Malala Centre of Excellence in Gender Studies.
We understand that the PTI believes in gender equality and supports an educational policy that produces scholars and professionals to deal with this grave issue. We believe that the PTI is not against equal education opportunities for girls and boys, and co-education. We also understand that the PTI believes in promoting scientific, technological and social advancement through education. With this understanding, we strongly oppose the abovementioned regressive actions and demand the following: 1) complete support to the Malala Centre of Excellence in Gender Studies and continuation of co-education in the college; 2) continuing with the residing female staff and students in the college accommodation; 3) regularisation of all contractual staff recruited for teaching in the new disciplines; and 4) immediate cancellation of transfer of the previous college principal, Professor Shah Jahan, and Professor Tariq Chughtai, director academic enhancement programme, who introduced the abovementioned reforms.
We strongly urge that these efforts that were three years in the making should not go down the drain and the future of students of the college should be protected.
Students and faculty,
Post-Graduate Government College
Published in The Express Tribune, July 30th, 2013.