Too many students, too few colleges

From thousands who sat for the matriculation examination, only 20 percent students will be able to find a place in a government college and the rest will be left at the mercy of private institutions since there is no place in the government colleges, Pakistan Today learnt on Sunday.
According to a Director Public Instruction official, government colleges have only 25 thousand seats for new entrants. He said that other students would have no choice but to seek admission in private colleges.
Interestingly, the incoming classes have raised the bar of merit as the recently announced results from BISE showed that students achieved a higher percentage than previous years. However, even among these toppers, a race has begun to gain admission in government colleges.
Once known as the ‘city of colleges’, Lahore is now faced with a shortage of quality government institutes, facilities and proper faculties. This is the reason why only 20 percent of the students are expected to be taken for the incoming classes. Other students who are hoping to pursue higher education will be forced to see admission in private institutes where they will pay a much higher tuition fee.
It must be mentioned that BISE Lahore matriculation results last week where 100,000 were passed their exams. This sets a new record, because last year, passing percentage was 58.72 percent. In 2010, passing percentage was 60.79 percent, whereas in 2009, passing percentage 61.99 percent.
While this is indeed a great feat, it also means that there will be increased pressure on students to gain admissions in colleges.
Parents and students have expressed concern over this situation and have requested the government to create more seats for students in government institutes since they cannot afford the higher fee for private colleges.
It must be noted that it is not just Lahore BISE that experienced a greater number of students passing their exams. All eight BISE in the province saw that the passing percentage was higher than ever before.
Because of this, reputed colleges are receiving admission applications from thousands of students, not just from Lahore but from other cities as well.
Greatest number of applicants was found in GCU Lahore, FCCU, Civil Lines College, MAO College, Kinniard College for Women and LCWU, Queen Mary College and APWA.
Noreen, a matriculation student, said that due to a great number of applicants competing for scarce seats, students are applying at three or four colleges at the same time. She said there was pressure on students because parents will not allow them to study at private colleges as they can not afford fees.
A principal of a government college, seeking anonymity, said that Punjab leaders have not invested much in government educational institutes. He said this is why it is not just the students who are suffering, but also the colleges. He noted that every year the number of students appearing in exams increased but the government was not mindful of the increased demand for education.