Concern has been raised over the quality of education in Karachi’s government schools and the ability of their students to gain admission to the city’s leading government colleges. According to admission data, the overwhelming majority of students admitted to Karachi’s top 10 government colleges completed their matriculation from private schools. Despite these institutions being government colleges, around 93 out of every 100 students admitted to them are graduates of private schools, while only about seven come from government schools. Data obtained from the colleges shows that a total of 13,211 students were admitted to these institutions. Of them, 12,264 had completed their matriculation from private schools, while only 947 were graduates of government schools. This means that 92.8% of admissions were secured by students from private schools, while government school students accounted for just 7.2%. In other words, for every 100 students admitted to these government colleges, approximately 93 come from private schools and only seven from government schools. At Adamjee Government Science College, 613 students were admitted. Among them, 585 had completed matriculation from private schools, while only 28 came from government schools. Similarly, Government D.J. Sindh Science College admitted a total of 1,258 students. Of these, 1,214 were graduates of private schools and only 44 had studied at government schools. At Delhi Government Science College, 801 students were admitted. The figures show that 773 came from private schools, while only 28 were graduates of government schools. Government Boys College for Men, Nazimabad, admitted a total of 1,317 students. Of these, 1,257 had completed their matriculation from private schools, while only 60 came from government schools. The same trend is even more visible among government girls’ colleges. Government Sir Syed Girls College admitted 2,507 students. Among them, 2,266 had completed matriculation from private schools, while only 241 were graduates of government schools. At St Lawrence Government Girls College, 691 students were admitted. Of these, 631 came from private schools and only 60 from government schools. Similarly, at PECHS Government College for Women, 1,517 students were admitted. A total of 1,420 had studied at private schools, while only 97 had completed matriculation from government schools. At Khatoon-e-Pakistan Government College for Women, 2,107 students were admitted. Of these, 1,876 were graduates of private schools, while only 231 came from government schools. The figures for boys and girls at Government Degree College Malir Cantonment were also included. According to the data provided, 402 students were counted in the combined figures, while the reported breakdown listed 1,316 students from private schools and 86 from government schools. Meanwhile, Government Degree Boys and Girls College Stadium Road admitted a total of 998 students. Of these, 926 had completed matriculation from private schools, while only 72 were graduates of government schools. The situation at government girls’ colleges is similarly concerning. At Sir Syed Girls College, 2,266 students from private schools secured admission compared with only 241 from government schools. At PECHS Government College for Women, the ratio was 1,420 private-school graduates against 97 government-school graduates. At Khatoon-e-Pakistan Government College for Women, 1,876 private-school graduates were admitted compared with just 231 from government schools.
