Chilas’ only women’s college students protest against teacher shortage

CHILAS: Scores of students of the sole Government Degree College for Women in Chilas, located in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, staged a protest on Thursday over the acute shortage of teachers, citing its adverse impact on their education.

“We have not attended any class yet as there is no teacher available,” lamented one of the protesting students. She highlighted that key subjects were left without instructors and noted that only a few of the faculty members were permanent, while the rest were on contracts that had not been renewed for the current academic session.

The students expressed frustration, stating that they had repeatedly approached the college administration to address the issue, but no effective measures had been taken.

“Most teaching positions at the college remain vacant, leaving us to attend only one or two classes a day,” one protester said.

Diamer, known as one of the most underdeveloped areas in the region, struggles with the lowest literacy rates, particularly among women.

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The lack of educational facilities continues to exacerbate the difficulties faced by students, further hindering the progress of women’s education.

Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Gulbar Khan, who hails from Diamer, has taken note of the situation. In a statement to HUM News English, Faizullah Faraq, the spokesperson for the Chief Minister, mentioned that the Chief Minister directed the Secretary for Higher Education to expedite efforts to fill the vacant teaching positions.

The spokesperson noted, “The situation regarding faculty presence in educational institutions in Diamer has shown significant improvement compared to previous years. Six lecturers are set to be appointed through fellowship programs in the Girls’ College, and two faculty members have already been appointed.”

The shortage of teachers and staff in educational institutions has been a recurring issue in the region, and the student protests highlight the need for immediate action to address the issue. Last month students from various government schools in the Balghar area of Ghanche district held a protest against the shortage of teaching staff in their schools.