Zohaib Ud Din Kibzai
In the arid expanse of Balochistan, a young girl named Shahina dreams of becoming a chartered accountant. Despite her hard work and dedication, she narrowly missed out on the only available scholarship in her district, a stark reminder of the hurdles faced by young women in the province. The absence of reserved seats for females underscores the ongoing gender-based injustices in Pakistan’s education system, where women often find themselves at a disadvantage.
According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, education is a fundamental right for all, as enshrined in the country’s constitution. The commission’s report highlights the state’s obligation to ensure equal educational opportunities for both men and women, stating, “Our stance on girls’ education is unequivocal there can be no compromise.”
However, the reality on the ground tells a different story. The literacy rate in Balochistan has risen to 54.5 percent, with the Makran division boasting a literacy rate of 60.05 percent, and Kech district leading at 62.66 percent. Despite this progress, the province lags behind the national average of 53 percent and other provinces Punjab (58 percent), Sindh (55 percent), and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (47 percent).
The educational landscape in Balochistan is complex and fraught with challenges. The province has 13,674 schools, of which 11,272 (82.4 percent) are primary schools, 1,395 (10.2 percent) are middle schools, and 1,007 (7.4 percent) are higher secondary schools. Amongst these, the Quetta Region has two of the oldest institutions FG Chiltan Public Middle School, established in 1946, and FG Jinnah Public Middle School, established in 1947.
Despite a budget allocation of over 90 billion rupees for the education sector in 2023-24, more than 2 million children remain out of school in Balochistan, a clear indicator that financial investments alone are insufficient to overcome these deep-rooted challenges. The provincial education sector is also plagued by outdated curricula and a lack of modern teaching equipment, significantly affecting the quality of education.
Basic amenities like electricity, water, and proper washrooms are absent in many schools, further deterring attendance. The statistics are grim.76 percent of girls and 9 percent of boys aged 6-10 are out of school. These figures rise dramatically beyond primary school, with 88 percent of girls and 68 percent of boys aged 11-13, and 90 percent of girls and 75 percent of boys aged 14-15, not attending school.
In total, approximately 31,025 children aged 6-15 are out of school in the district. Moreover, the province’s education department revealed a scandal involving “ghost teachers.” Out of 59,000 registered primary, middle, and high school teachers, 15,000 were found to be non-existent, siphoning off 400-500 million rupees from the annual budget.
Dr. Kaleemullah Barech, an academic and educational expert he says from last four decades due to afghan war the education and particularly girls education is under attack, Dr kameemullah emphasizes the need for community involvement in promoting girls’ education. “Religious scholars, community elders, intellectuals, and common people should play a part in promoting girls’ education. It’s the requirement of today’s world, especially in medical, IT, and science.”
Dr. Shahida, a university professor and campaigner for girls’ education, launched several campaigns to promote girls’ education. She identifies four key challenges, the tribal system, migration, lack of girls’ schools in villages, and the absence of teachers. “Community awareness, teacher training, and community participation are essential for promoting girls’ education,” she says.
Dr. Shahida emphasizes the need for parents’ awareness about the importance of education. “If parents are awarded, then they can help and promote their girls in every field and education. Parents should be mentally developed, then girls’ education is not a big issue.”
In last , the educational challenges in Balochistan are complex and deeply entrenched. Addressing them requires a concerted effort from the government, civil society, and the community. Financial investments must be accompanied by stringent oversight and management to ensure that resources are used effectively. Cultural barriers must be tackled through community engagement and education programs that promote the value of education for all children. Only through a comprehensive and sustained effort can Balochistan hope to provide equitable educational opportunities for all its children, fulfilling the constitutional promise of education as a fundamental right for every individual.
