DERA GHAZI KHAN: In accordance with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council’s ban on 17 medical colleges that took place on July 2, 2015, the Dera Ghazi Khan Medical College has been closed down due to lack of adequate teachers.
This closure has led to students expressing grave concern over the ban, as it has deprived them of enrolling in a bds college close to their area.
The closure became effective recently, after it was discovered that the college was understaffed and that the administration was operating without any recognition from the medical council. Along with the Dera Ghazi Medical College, Bacha Khan Medical College, Mardan has also been banned from admitting students due to similar reasons.
The future plans of almost 500 students is at danger due to the negligence of the health ministry and lawmakers of the area. While different political views have come forth on this ruling by the PMDC, Jamaat-e-Islami has condemned this decision, citing the reason that it would deprive hundreds of new students from getting admitted to medical colleges. According to the party, instead of banning these colleges, the health ministry should appoint new teachers immediately so that the colleges can operate normally and student can be admitted without any issues.
For those students who are already studying in these institutes, things are bleaker, as many of them were supposed to graduate next year and now, if they have a degree from an unrecognized institute, it would affect their job prospects. The PMDC should have held the government accountable and should have forced the concerned departments to send in viable teachers to keep the dental college running, the students suggest.
With the new session about to begin after Eid, chances of these colleges reopening and admitting new students for the academic year of 2015-16 do not seem bright.