Balochistan Education: 8,188 schools have no toilet facility
A teacher walks as the children study outside a shelterless school in Balochistan's Killa Abdullah district: Photo Asmat Khan

Balochistan Education: 8,188 Schools have no toilet facility

Syed Ali Shah :

In Balochistan, 8,188 government-run schools have no toilet facility. The number of girls and boys primary, middle, and high schools across the province are 14,979 across the province. “We are trying hard to provide missing facilities to schools”, Sher Khan Bazai, the newly appointed secretary education Balochistan tells the daily Quetta Voice. Especially, female students abandon education as a result of a lack of basic facilities.

Girls drop out is high as compared to boys in the province.

Balochistan government allocated more than Rs. 75 billion for higher and secondary education to bring the province at par with other parts of the country. “Education is our top priority”, the Chief Minister, Jam Kamal Khan said. For secondary education, the Balochistan government allocated Rs. 63.5 billion budget during the financial year 2020-21.

11,795 Schools without drinking water facility 

Despite repeated announcements, still, 11,795 schools are without drinking water facility, 7,998 without boundary walls, 1942 without buildings, 12,258 have no power supply. “We are aware of the challenges”, Mr. Bazai said when asked about the plight of government-run schools. Schools in remote areas of Balochistan paint a bleak picture when it comes to basic facilities.

Balochistan Education Minister

Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind, the Education Minister Balochistan said the number of one-teacher one-room schools was over 5,000 in the province. He said the first priority of the government is to construct additional rooms for students.

Over 1 million children remained out of schools in the province. The provincial government has declared education compulsory and free under article 25-A of the Constitution. However, practically, the students are yet to be enrolled in educational institutions in Balochistan.

“Education department is committed to increasing the enrollment of children”, the Secretary Education said. He said the provincial government has also allocated funds to provide to missing facilities to government-run schools throughout the province

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About the Author

Quetta Voice is an English Daily covering all unfolding political, economic and social issues relating to Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province in terms of area. QV's main focus is on stories related to education, promotion of quality education and publishing reports about out of school children in the province. QV has also a vigilant eye on health, climate change and other key sectors.