The KP government is preparing to privatize 55 public colleges across the province. This move follows the recent privatization of 1,500 schools earlier this year. The Higher Education Department (HED) has identified colleges for privatization based on factors like low enrollment, staff shortages, and security concerns.
Most of the colleges on the list are from districts such as Dera Ismail Khan, Swabi, South Waziristan, Karak, Bannu, and Battagram. Dera Ismail Khan, the home district of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, has the highest number with seven colleges. Swabi, represented by Education Minister Faisal Tarakai, has six colleges included.
Other districts with colleges under consideration include Abbottabad, Haripur, Mansehra, Nowshera, Kurram, Shangla, Kohistan, Peshawar, Hangu, Lower Dir, Malakand, North Waziristan, and FR Tank. The selection criteria mainly focus on institutions struggling to meet enrollment and staffing standards.
According to Secretary Higher Education Kamran Afridi, no final decision has been made yet. The government aims to increase the capacity and quality of these colleges by involving the private sector. He pointed out that some colleges have very low student numbers, sometimes only in double digits, with many admissions existing only on paper.
Afridi assured that no teachers will lose their jobs. Instead, affected faculty members will be transferred to nearby colleges. The province currently faces a shortage of over 3,000 teaching positions, many of which await cabinet approval for recruitment.
Despite the plan, the privatization idea has faced criticism. Abdul Hameed Afridi, President of the Professors, Lecturers, and Librarians Association, said teachers have raised concerns with the Higher Education Minister. He added that most government colleges perform well, and issues mainly exist in remote areas.
Critics believe the KP government should address problems like staff shortages and security challenges before privatizing. They also highlighted the success of students from public colleges in competitive exams.
The KP government continues to explore ways to improve higher education quality and accessibility across the province.The KP government is preparing to privatize 55 public colleges across the province. This move follows the recent privatization of 1,500 schools earlier this year. The Higher Education Department (HED) has identified colleges for privatization based on factors like low enrollment, staff shortages, and security concerns.
Most of the colleges on the list are from districts such as Dera Ismail Khan, Swabi, South Waziristan, Karak, Bannu, and Battagram. Dera Ismail Khan, the home district of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, has the highest number with seven colleges. Swabi, represented by Education Minister Faisal Tarakai, has six colleges included.
Other districts with colleges under consideration include Abbottabad, Haripur, Mansehra, Nowshera, Kurram, Shangla, Kohistan, Peshawar, Hangu, Lower Dir, Malakand, North Waziristan, and FR Tank. The selection criteria mainly focus on institutions struggling to meet enrollment and staffing standards.
According to Secretary Higher Education Kamran Afridi, no final decision has been made yet. The government aims to increase the capacity and quality of these colleges by involving the private sector. He pointed out that some colleges have very low student numbers, sometimes only in double digits, with many admissions existing only on paper.
Afridi assured that no teachers will lose their jobs. Instead, affected faculty members will be transferred to nearby colleges. The province currently faces a shortage of over 3,000 teaching positions, many of which await cabinet approval for recruitment.
Despite the plan, the privatization idea has faced criticism. Abdul Hameed Afridi, President of the Professors, Lecturers, and Librarians Association, said teachers have raised concerns with the Higher Education Minister. He added that most government colleges perform well, and issues mainly exist in remote areas.
Critics believe the KP government should address problems like staff shortages and security challenges before privatizing. They also highlighted the success of students from public colleges in competitive exams.
The KP government continues to explore ways to improve higher education quality and accessibility across the province.
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