Swat female students protest another bid to grab their college building

A proposed move to establish a boys’ college in a portion of the girls’ college building in Swat has sparked protests among the female students.

Built in 2003, the Government Girls’ Degree College in Khwaza Khela was shifted to Saidu Sharif four years later in 2007, due to the wave of terrorism in Swat.

But for the past 15 years the building has been occupied by security forces and recently, after the forces vacated the premises, a mysterious fire damaged the college building, leaving it only partially functional. Despite the damage, students have been studying in challenging conditions.

Now, the government’s decision to allocate a portion of the Girls’ Degree College to a boys’ college has sparked strong opposition from its female students. Demonstrations are currently underway inside the college. “We will not allow a boys’ college to be established on our premises,” the protesting students assert in slogans.

“We waited 15 years only to reclaim this college building for our education, and now the provincial government – whom we voted into power – wants to snatch it away from us,” a student said.

She added that all this time they had been studying with the hope that their building would eventually undergo renovations and a facelift. Instead they are being faced with encroachment by the government.

Another girl said the decision to build and establish a boy’s college within their female institution reflected the cultural insensitivity of the government.

“The families of female students would never tolerate boys and girls studying in the same building,” she said.

The Pakhtunkhwa Students Organisation has also joined the protests, opposing the government’s decision.

“We aim to prevent the government from establishing a boys’ college within the boundaries of the Girls’ Degree College,” Ghairat Yousafzai, a student body representative, told Voicepk.The government should acquire land elsewhere and build a degree college for boys with all amenities there,” he added.

Community members are also expressing their disapproval. Ammad Khan, a resident of Khwaza Khela, called the decision a violation of Pashtun traditions that emphasised segregated education of boys and girls. “This is a college and not a university that the government is forcing co-education citing a lack of resources,” he added.

Social activist and lawyer Neelam Chattan echoed these concerns, arguing that the move contradicts local customs. “Establishing a boys’ college within the girls’ college premises goes entirely against our traditions,” she emphasised. The move would deprive hundreds of girls from acquiring any education, only because of the presence of boys in the building. This was a conservative region, she said.

“Co-education at the intermediate level would hurt and restrict girls’ education in Khwaza Khela,” Chattan added.

Still In The Air
Speaking to Voicepk.net, Hameed Khan Buneri, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Swat, clarified that no final decision had yet been made regarding the establishment of a boys’ college in the building.

“The assistant commissioner contacted the regional director of the provincial higher education department who categorically stated that there was no plan to establish a boy’s college in the building of Government Girls Degree College in Khwaza Khela,” Buneri told Voicepk. He said the protesting students should remain calm until any decision is communicated to the district authorities.

Despite the assurances, there is tension in the air. Activists and local leaders warn that if the decision is not reversed promptly, it could lead to widespread unrest in the area.