Garrison Cadet College Kohat: A Legacy of Excellence
Garrison Cadet College Kohat stands as one of Pakistan's top-ranked cadet colleges, dedicated to cultivating future leaders through a rigorous academic and military-style training program. Situated in the suburbs of Kohat City, the institution has a rich history of shaping young minds, instilling discipline, and fostering a lifelong sense of community. The college enrolls over 600 cadets aged 12-19, spanning grades 8 through 12, with programs culminating in FSc Pre-Engineering and Pre-Medical qualifications designed to prepare students for military academies and higher education.
Historical Overview
The seeds of Garrison Cadet College Kohat were sown with the vision to provide quality education and military training to the youth of the region. Recognizing the need for such an institution, Mr. Fateh Khan Bandial, the then Deputy Commissioner of Kohat, approached Malik Amir Muhammad Khan, the Governor of West Pakistan, with a request to establish a cadet college in Kohat.
The foundation stone of Cadet College Kohat was laid by Governor West Pakistan, Malik Amir Muhammad Khan on 19 April 1964. The first entry of 58 cadets was inducted in 8th class in April 1965 in Jinnah House. Lt Col (Retd) Faizullah Khan Khattak was the founder Principal of this premier residential academic institution.
The college's journey began in April 1965, with the acceptance of its first entry of cadets. Academic work commenced with 58 cadets housed in Jinnah House, marking the beginning of a legacy of excellence.
Later, on 1 March 1990, then-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto laid the foundation stone at the site in Kohat Cantonment. On Completion of basic infrastructure, classes were started in 1993. Lt-Gen Arif Bangash formally inaugurated college on May 10, 1993. Initially established as Kohat Garrison College, it was later renamed Garrison Cadet College Kohat after the approval of the then Chief of Army staff General Pervaiz Musharaf.
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Leadership and Administration
Garrison Cadet College Kohat is run by an Army officer of Brigadier rank who is secretary to Chairman Board of Governors (GOC 9 Division, Kohat). All decisions are taken by principal whose decision cannot be challenged in any court of law. The College is under the control and management of a Board of Governors, headed by General Officer Commanding 9th Infantry Division. Tenure of each member is three years.
The leadership of the college has evolved through a series of retired and serving officers from the Pakistan Army, primarily Brigadiers from various regiments, who have overseen its growth from inception to its current status as a premier residential institution.
Here is a list of principals, including their tenures, military branches:
- Col. (R) Muhammad Idrees Niazi (September 1992 - December 1995): Armour. Founder principal who established the initial administrative and academic framework following the college's inauguration; late officer credited with laying the groundwork for cadet training programs.
- Brig. (R) Talat Imtiaz Naqvi (December 1995 - December 2001): Artillery. Oversaw early expansion of infrastructure and enrollment; focused on integrating military discipline with academic rigor during the college's formative years.
- Brig. (R) Tariq Saeed (March 2002 - March 2013): Artillery. Longest-serving principal to date; emphasized extracurricular development and parental engagement, as highlighted during the 11th Parents' Day in 2004; retired officer who stabilized operations amid growing student numbers.
- Brig. Munawar Alam (March 2013 - October 2015): Artillery. Serving officer awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military); advanced academic affiliations and facilities upgrades during his tenure.
- Brig. Sameen Habib Malik (October 2015 - July 2016): Army Dental Corps. Short-term leadership focused on transitional administration; contributed to maintaining institutional continuity.
- Col. Zulfiqar Ahmad Abbasi (July 2016 - October 2016): N/A. Interim principal ensuring smooth handover; managed daily affairs during a period of administrative transition.
- Brig. Nadeem Akhter Hussain (October 2016 - September 2021): Punjab Regiment. Serving officer who spearheaded infrastructure projects, including faculty housing; graced key ceremonial events like groundbreakings.
- Brig. Hamid Jamil Khan (October 2021 - September 2023): Baloch Regiment. Facilitated career counseling initiatives and academic achievements, such as high FBISE matric results in 2022; emphasized student guidance programs.
Academic Program and Affiliations
Garrison Cadet College Kohat maintains its academic affiliation with the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE), Islamabad, overseeing examinations up to the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) level, while the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Kohat (BISEK) handles the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) programs.
The college has classes from class 8th to FSc (Pre-Engineering and Pre-Medical Level). Students are inducted in class 8 and Class 11; after a 3-step selection process, which composed of a written test, interview and medical examination. The medium of instruction is English for all classes.
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The cadets are prepared for Secondary School Certificate (Matriculation) and Higher Secondary School Certificate examinations. Terminal examinations are held at the end of all terms (1st term- June, 2nd term- November). Annual internal promotion examinations are held in March. Besides this, monthly and end chapter tests are regularly held throughout the academic year to check assimilation and progress of the cadets. Progress reports are sent to the parents after each examination (less monthly and spot tests).
Admission to class 11 (FSc Part-I) depends upon the students’ over-all academic performance, result of matriculation examination and his discipline. Note: Cadets failing in annual promotion examination are made to repeat the same class.
Infrastructure and Facilities
Garrison Cadet College Kohat is spread over a large area, providing ample space for academic, residential, and recreational activities. The college is spread over an area of about 144 acres (0.58 km2). The buildings comprise an Academic Block, Admin Block, Multimedia block, seven boarding houses (spread around the Academic Block in a semicircular shape), three messes, a mosque, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, a swimming pool, a ten-bed hospital, several sports fields including nine football grounds, seven hockey fields, two cricket pitches, six basketball courts, three volleyball courts and two squash courts.
- Academic Block: Cadet College Kohat has double story academic block. Academic Block consists of classrooms, assembly hall (Faizullah Khan Auditorium), Chemistry laboratory, Physics Laboratory (Dr. A. Q. Khan Laboratory), Biology Laboratory and Language Lab.
- Library: Cadet College Kohat has a rich collection of books in its library named "Khursheed Library"; named after then Principal, Mirza Khurshid Anwar Beg. Under the supervision of a qualified Librarian, the library is providing services to 542 Cadets and 230 College employees. Total Collection of the library is 30,000 books, including Islamic, Reference, Computer, History, Science and Arts Books. Similarly to provide the latest information and to improve the English language of the Cadets, English & Urdu magazines, Journals, Digests, Newspapers etc., of National and International level have also been subscribed for the library. The Library is also equipped with a television and VCR/DVD used for showing informative, historical, educational, geographical and cultural movies to the cadets.
- Hostels: The college is divided into six Boarding Houses spreading around the Academic Block in a semicircular shape. Houses are named after personalities of national and regional importance. Each House can accommodate up to 100 cadets and consists of ten small and two large dormitories. Apart from dormitories, there are six single rooms for the appointment holders and distinguished cadets who are selected from amongst the senior Cadets on the basis of their previous record and qualities of leadership. One of the members of faculty is appointed as an in charge of the House, known as House Master.
- Houses: Garrison Cadet College Kohat consists of five houses Ceena, Ghazali, Zangi, Ayubi, and Kayani named after great Muslim warriors and scholars Ibn Sīnā, Imam Al-Ghazali, Nur ad-Din Zangi, Sultan Salah-al-Din Yusuf ibn-Ayyub, and Justice (R) Rustam Kiyani respectively. Each house is administered by a House Warden and a House Tutor. Each house has a Junior and Senior Section Commander and a House commander. Each house has a House Master and a House Tuter which look after the cadets of house.they keep eyes on their cadets 24 hours .they select Cadets for various activities.Recommend their cadets for Appointments.House masters are assisted by a House Commander(student of FscII)and two section commanders(FscI).Each house has a Drill Instructor, a house Baba,a medical superintendent.
- Mosque: The college has two spacious and beautiful mosques and a Church. One mosque has recently been renovated. The College Mosque is the center of all religious activities. It has the capacity to accommodate about 1500 people at a time. Besides the daily 5 times prayers, Jumma Prayers, Travih Prayers, in Ramadan, are offered in this beautiful mosque. Moreover, other religious functions like Eid-Milad-un-Nabi, Shab-e-Barat, 27 Ramadan- etc. are also performed here.
- Hospital: The college has a twenty-bed hospital along with two isolation rooms for special cases. A full-time medical officer assisted by two dispensers look after the health of cadets. The college hospital has its own ambulance. Cadets are referred to C.M.H. Kohat for medical treatment as well.
- Messes: There are three messes catering for the needs of cadets. The Messing Officer supervises the working of messes. The Caterer looks after the procurement and supply of dry and fresh provisions. Every effort is made to provide a balanced and nutritious diet with several fruits. Meals include breakfast, milk during breakfast, refreshment during break, lunch, evening tea and dinner.
- Sports Facilities: The college offers extensive sports facilities, including several sports fields including nine football grounds, seven hockey fields, two cricket pitches, six basketball courts, three volleyball courts and two squash courts. A swimming pool is available for cadets to learn and enjoy swimming, in addition a gymnasium and two squash courts are also available in the college. Sports and physical training are compulsory for all cadets. Morning PT and drill of all houses are conducted and supervised by the adjutant and respective incharge non-commissioned officers. Timings for these activities are laid down in the college routine instructions. Regular inter house competitions in sports, PT, and Drill are held in order to inculcate competitive spirit among the cadets. The college also plays friendly matches with teams of other colleges and clubs.
The House System
The house system plays a pivotal role in fostering discipline, camaraderie, and holistic development among cadets by promoting healthy competition in academics, sports, and cultural activities. Inter-house events, such as drill competitions, quizzes, debates, and athletic meets, instill values of teamwork, leadership, and perseverance while building character and a competitive spirit essential for future military and civilian roles.
College Life and Extracurricular Activities
Life at Garrison Cadet College Kohat extends beyond academics and military training. The college offers the students a wide variety of extracurricular activities and the students can participate in any of them according to their individual interest and inclination.
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Other facilities include:
- The college has own cable network with sufficient number of news, sports and controlled entertainment channels. The cadets are allowed to watch various TV programmes during TV timings.
- A good tuck shop and fruit shop are available to the cadets from where they can buy essential commodities at reasonable prices. Since keeping of mobile phones is strictly prohibited for the cadets, the college administration has arranged a public call office. The cadets can call their parents using PCO. All the required syllabus books, stationery and stores, etc.
- Three barbers are hired by the college who take care of haircut. There is a laundry readily available to the cadets where washermen wash their clothes, uniforms etc. The service of a cobbler are also available to the cadets in the Campus.
Motto and Slogan
The motto of Garrison Cadet College Kohat is العلم قوة (Knowledge is Power), encapsulating the institution's commitment to intellectual empowerment as a foundation for leadership and resilience in a pre-military context. Complementing this is the enduring slogan "Once a Garrisonian, Always a Garrisonian," which fosters a strong sense of lifelong community and pride among alumni and current students.
Alumni and Legacy
Although the College does not prepare cadets purely for military career, yet in 1971 out of 107 cadets, 95 were selected for Commission in Defence Forces-a record percentage of success achieved by any single educational institution in the country. However, a large number of cadets also opt for professions such as medical, engineering, business management and civil services etc. Ever since its inception, the College has displayed outstanding results in SSC and HSSC Board Examinations.
Garrison Cadet College Kohat continues to uphold its legacy of excellence, shaping young minds and preparing them to become future leaders in various fields.
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