By: Shahzad Naveed
SWAT: Students across the province, including those in Swat, have begun protesting against the provincial government’s proposed decision to privatise government colleges and schools in Tehsil Matta. Students from the Postgraduate Afzal Khan Lala College in Matta Chowk held a vigorous protest, demanding that the government immediately withdraw its privatisation plan.
The protesters displayed banners and placards with slogans such as “Privatisation of colleges is not allowed” and “Education is the right of everyone.” They expressed concerns that privatisation could turn education into a business, jeopardising the educational journey of poor students.
The students warned that if the government did not retract its decision, the protests would escalate, potentially leading to a situation that could spiral out of control. During this demonstration, the Matta-Mingora and Kalam highways were closed for over an hour, causing significant inconvenience to the local population.
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The student representatives urged the government to abandon its anti-education policy and instead develop a new strategy in consultation with all stakeholders. If not, they vowed to intensify their protests.
