Poor girl students seek help to continue education

TIMERGARA: Poor girl students hailing from Asbanr area in Lower Dir on Saturday appealed philanthropists, well-to-do people and the concerned government departments to help them carry on education and to treat their ailing parents.

The BSc degree holder, Najma, 21, told this scribe by phone from Asbanr that she had eight sisters and one brother who is mentally retarded. Both her mother and father were ill and the family had no resources to provide them with medical care, she added.

“My father Taj Muhammad is ill and unable to earn livelihood for the family,” she said, adding their family was currently residing in an under-construction house of a relative but can be asked to leave anytime.

“I wish to take admission in MSc and complete my education but due to lack of admission fee and travelling fare I could not do so this year,” Najma said, adding she had done her BSc from Government Girls’ Degree College, Batkhela.

Najma said her sister Laila, 19, was studying in 3rd year at Adenzai Degree College and travelled 10 kilometers daily to reach her college. “I pay Rs20 daily as transport fare but sometimes due to lack of that amount I miss my college,” Laila said via phone, adding that she had topped an entry test for admission in the Khyber Medical Institute but was denied admission as she was unable to pay the admission fee.

One of their sisters Amina Bibi studies in 1st year, Madina Bibi in grade 9 and Palwasha in grade 7 but the family was finding it hard to manage for their expenses, Laila and Najma said.

“All our sisters want to complete their education but due to abject poverty their dream seemed not to come true,” said Najma.The poor family appealed to well off people, philanthropists and government to help solve its core issues of health and education.