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Economic pressure exacerbates college dropout rate
Islamabad, March 06, 2008: The dropout rate in
different colleges of the federal capital has reached five percent, as the
prevailing price-hike has multiplied the financial problems of students.
Teachers of various colleges said it had
become very difficult for many students to continue their studies because their
parents were becoming unable to meet their educational expenditures due to
growing inflation in the country.
They said the financial crisis had
confronted the students with many problems including dealing with academic
tasks, friendship, family and social issues.
Prof
Dr Sallahuddin of Federal Government College for Men H-9 Islamabad, said
financial stress was often resulting in difficulties in academic or learning
process, bunking off classes, lack of motivation in studies and poor academic
performance.
He said this stress was also creating problems in conduct
and interpersonal relationship with family, friends and teachers. He said such
students were heading towards a tendency to violate college discipline and bunk
off their institutions.
He said during counselling it was learnt that
many of the students were confronting academic problems due to financial crisis.
He said 60 per cent of such students belonged to those families which
were facing financial crunch.
He said dropout rate of students had
reached to five percent, as their parents were unable to meet their
expenditures.
Prof Salman Basit, Federal Government Postgraduate College
for Men, H-8, Islamabad, said anxiety and depression; tendency towards
withdrawal from participation in social, academic and family activities;
moodiness and withdrawal into isolation were becoming common among
students.
He said financial stress was also causing anti-social behaviour
such as lying, cheating, stealing and similar immoral conducts among the
students. He said attention of parents towards their children was equally
important to deal with such problems.
He said the overall environment
was also affecting the studies of students. Transporters behaviour towards
students was also developing a tendency towards anger and violence among them,
he added
Prof Dr Abdul Latif, principal, Federal Government Postgraduate
College for Men H-8, Islamabad, said students enrolled in federal government
colleges were mostly from middle or lower middle class families.
He said
the colleges were charging a nominal fee, but even then parents were unable to
support their children to continue their studies and provide them day-to-day
expenditures.
"Delay in provision of required things pertaining to their
studies causes stress among students, which lead to their lack of motivation in
studies," he said.
Prof Dr Muhmmad Rashid Azim said students' problems
related to their education were being addressed at the colleges.
He said
counsellors were helping students so that they could regain their emotional
balance, motivation and a sense of direction in their lives. Daily Times
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