Bucheki, a small town in the Nankana Sahib district, is primarily agricultural, with most residents engaged in agriculture and daily wage labour. Ali Akbar, supporting his family of four as a labourer, faced financial constraints when his eldest daughter, Aamna, wanted to pursue FSC (Faculty of Sciences) after matriculation. Private college fees proved prohibitive, but Ali Akbar enrolled Aamna in the Bucheki Government Associate College for Women for the first year of FSC.

Despite attending for a month, Aamna's hopes were dashed as the college lacked science teachers, leaving her frustrated. She eventually stopped attending, insisting on private education, but the family couldn't afford it.
Aamna is now preparing for a private F.A. at home.

Ali Akbar says that despite the government investing millions in constructing the college, it has neglected to appoint teachers for science subjects. Numerous girls in the region, including his daughter, encounter difficulties, leading many to discontinue their educational pursuits.

Professor Dr Tahira Batool reassumed the position of Principal for the second time at Bucheki Government Associate College for Women in July 2023, having previously served in the same role from 2019 to 2021. She says that despite the college building being inaugurated in 2018, the persistent issue of a shortage of teachers has yet to be resolved.

“We temporarily employed 11 teachers through the CTI program (College Teaching Internees), increasing the student population to 700 during the 2021-2022 session. However, by the academic year 2023, this number has decreased to 250 students. The college is encountering challenges initiating BSc classes because, out of the approved 19 seats, only eight teachers are available, and none are science teachers.”

The CTI (College Teaching Internees) program, administered by the Higher Education Department of the Punjab government, aims to address the shortage of regular faculty in colleges. Teachers hired through this program serve temporarily for five months, receiving a monthly stipend of 45,000 rupees.

In the 2020-2021 educational year, the Punjab government employed 1700 CTI teachers across the province.

The senior clerk at Bucheki College, also a member of the college's admission committee, says there is a faculty shortage in various subjects. Critical areas such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Health and Physical Education, and Library Sciences currently have eight vacant positions.

There are six longstanding vacant positions for non-teaching staff.

Simab Zahra, who teaches Persian language at the same college, is the first permanent teacher, having been transferred from Rawalpindi in December 2020. According to her, students who achieve high marks opt for admission to private colleges in nearby cities like Nankana Sahib, Jaranwala, and Mor Khanda. The persistent shortage of teachers at this college has also contributed to the decline in student enrollment.

Mubara Maqbool, who has been serving as the head of CTI (College Teaching Interns) at Bucheki College, reflects on the past, stating, “In 2019, 11 temporary teachers, myself included, commenced teaching at this college. In the initial year, more than 430 students enrolled. However, our salaries were halted after a year, and some temporary teachers were let go without receiving their dues.

The college wouldn't have encountered such issues if permanent teachers were initially appointed for all subjects, including science. Today, the student enrollment could have reached into the thousands.

Professor Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmed, the Deputy Director of Colleges for Nankana Sahib district, tells Lok Sujag that despite earnest efforts, the issue of the teacher shortage at Bucheki College remains unresolved.

The primary reason for this predicament is the neglected status of Bucheki as an area. Teachers appointed from neighbouring districts like Faisalabad and Sheikhupura frequently seek transfers back to their home regions. Dr Ahmed says that the problem will persist unless local teachers are appointed on a permanent basis.