One of the first schools-assisted by Solas, the school has now developed to Degree College level.
Pamir holds its annual Parents Day
Pamir Public School and College, Garam Chashma, Chitral, held its annual Parents Day in the first week of October 2014. Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr.Gul Murad was in the chair, while member KPK Assembly, Mr. Saleem Khan was the chief guest. In his annual report Principal of the School, Mr.Islamuddin, gave update on the progress of the institution. He said that with the help of its partners, including SOLAS and ANMOL Trust, Pamir has expanded its services by establishing state of the art ECD center and intervention in the remote Parabeg valley to provide them quality English medium education. He also thanked Hashoo Foundation for extending scholarship support to poor deserving students. The Principal informed the audience that fee rebate was provided to the students affected by recent floods through funds generated by holding charity cultural show and musical concert. The Principal placed on record his appreciation for VSO and its volunteers who laid firm foundation of the institution to be built upon later on. Their services have been recognized by naming parts of the school after the names of Robin and Michael and mentioning names of donors on the list displayed at the main entry gate.
Chairman of the Board gave run down on the efforts of the Board for promoting gender empowerment. He took satisfaction in the fact that 40 % of the 40 member staff was female and the ratio was increasing in favour of women. Increasing enrolment of girls, especially in college section, was encouraging, which has now exceeded male enrolment. In school section the ratio of girls was 30 % which needed improvement by creating awareness among parents not to discriminate against girls in making investments for education of children on the erroneous assumption that boys being their old age insurance deserved marketable English medium education while for girls urdu medium is enough. However the reason for more girl enrolment in college section is lack of girls colleges in sufficient numbers in the area or limited seats in the women college. Current enrolment of students in Pamir is over 700 which are increasing every year showing public confidence in the institution. Female enrolment in school section is 30 % while in college it is over 50 %. At teacher training section it is 80 % which has improved female employability in the teaching profession. Pamir is offering education from ECD to graduation level in all the branches of science and humanities leading up to B.A and B.Sc level, besides bachelor and master of education and diploma in Information Technology. Plans to introduce commerce and business education would be taken in hand after construction of additional blocks for which avenues for funding are being explored. The purpose is to make the under-developed and remote area self sufficient in education by creating cost effective facilities for marketable education. Plans to access facilities for on-line masters degrees being offered by AIOU and Virtual University are also being pursued provided the government improves internet bandwidth.
MPA Saleem Khan appreciated the role of Pamir for bringing quality education at the door steps of the people at affordable cost through self help initiative and community ownership. He promised to try to bring part funding for its Information Technology block, now under construction. Later prizes were distributed among achiever students and teachers. Cash awards made available by Chitrali expatriate, Nighat Akbar, settled in USA, were given to three top position holders.
Regards and best wishes
Islamuddin principal
Solas support to the school to date: £4,300