Khushboo Inayat, a sixteen years old student was at prize distribution ceremony arranged for the toppers of Secondary School Certificates at the auditorium of Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Peshawar on Friday. Accompanied by family including her father, Inayatullah a primary school teacher and her mother wearing traditional burqa, Khushboo was different from the other students. And the difference was that she was the only student among the toppers as she was the only student from the government school. She made her school Government Girls High School Main Gujar, proud by taking 906 marks to secure third position in the Arts Group.
Having vision for helping national economy of the country after becoming economist, Khushbo had carried a letter for the Chief Guest Asad Qaiser, Speaker KP Assembly, requesting him to construct a college in her area in the outskirts of Peshawar. However, she failed to meet Asad Qaiser as he could not come to the ceremony as he had to visit the flood-hit areas of Peshawar and Charsadda.
I saw Khsuhboo asking someone about Asad Qasier. When I asked her why she wanted to meet the Speaker she said she had written a letter and wanted to give it to him. When asked what was in the letter she said she had demanded to construct a girls college in her area otherwise it would not be possible for her like many other girls to continue her studies.
“Honorable Speaker: It is a good chance to approach a high profile government official as I will get award from you for being the only topper from government institution. It is the happiest moment for me but I fear that I may not further carry on with my studies as there is no degree college in our area and same would happen with me as happened with my other two sisters who left regular studies as parents were not allowing them to study at colleges miles away from our residence,” Khushboo writes in the letter.
Safina Inayat and Ambrina Inayat, sisters of Khushboo also accompanied Khusboo on the occasion, had secured 832 and 854 marks respectively in matriculation but left the studies as due to no college facility in their area.
Inayatullah said despite of the fact that he wanted his children to continue their studies, it was not possible for him to send his daughters to colleges that are too far from his home.
ANP government had claimed that they have set up large number of colleges however, the story of Khusboo negates all such claims.
One wonder how many girls like Khushboo and her sisters had left their studies due to the reason that they were not given the facility to carry on their studies. Such girls could have played vital role in the development of their area and country if given a chance to complete their education.
Atif Khan, a young PTI MPA from Mardan was given the Ministry of Education and we must fully back him and support him as he has already shown his intents to bring positive changes in the education system of the province. But the story of Khushboo has two angles on which Mr Atif Khan has to work if he really wants to change the education system in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
One; the colleges and school must be built keeping in mind the need of these institutions and proper survey must be done before taking any final decision. In the past we have seen that the MPAs and MNAs have get the approval of schools and colleges in their areas without thinking of the need of the educational institutions ignoring those areas where they are really required. Second; the performance of the government schoolteachers. The performance of the government schoolteachers must be evaluated keeping in mind the SSC result of the Peshawar Board as only one student was among the toppers.
We hope that the voice of Khushboo would reach the high ups of the government especially Mr Asad Qaiser and Atif Khan.
Fazalullah Mohmand
The Frontier Post
