BATKHELA: The first-ever women subcampus of the University of Malakand (UoM) will start classes in Rang Mala area of Malakand district from August 1.

The sub-campus will be the first womenonly higher educational facility in the entire Malakand division.

UoM Vice-Chancellor Prof Gul Zaman told Dawn that the university initially planned to start five departments, including English, Islamic Studies, Psychology, Botany and Zoology.

During the first session, he said the campus would offer admissions only in two subjects while classes in remaining three subjects would start after attaching required space for starting academic programmes.

Dr Zaman said the women sub-campus would provide opportunity of higher education to female students of Malakand division as they could not join the existing co-education system in public sector universities due to socioeconomic, cultural and family backgrounds.

He said the campus would also provide employment opportunities for youth, especially women. The sub-campus would be housed in the Sabawoon Rehabilitation Centre run by Pak Army for de-radicalisation of youngsters. According to UoM, the officials of Sabawoon centre would soon hand over the possession of the building to the varsity administration.