PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Higher Education Department has decided to phase out several academic programmes in public sector colleges due to persistently low student interest and enrolment rates.
According to officials, 39 disciplines being offered in 35 government colleges across the province have been marked for discontinuation. The decision comes after enrolment data revealed that many of these courses attracted only five to six students each year, raising concerns over wastage of public resources.
An official source told Dawn that continuing with such low-demand programmes amounted to “misuse of government resources,” as institutions were forced to allocate teaching staff, classrooms, and other facilities without meaningful academic output.
He added that most of the programmes on the chopping block had little relevance to the current job market, which discouraged students from opting for them in the first place. “When students do not see a career path emerging from a subject, they naturally avoid it, and the state should focus on fields where demand exists,” the official explained.
The move, however, is not expected to affect the majority of academic disciplines in provincial colleges, which will continue operating as usual. Authorities believe that redirecting resources towards popular and market-driven fields will improve efficiency and enhance the employability of graduates.
Educationists argue that while rationalisation is necessary, the government must also explore ways to revive less popular subjects through curriculum updates, career counselling, and stronger linkages with emerging industries.
