Fear of 1000 girls schools closure in Balochistan
File Photo: A female student at a government-run girls school in Quetta: Photo Quetta Voice

Female teachers appointment in Balochistan

Editorial : 

The appointment of over 400 female teachers is indeed a positive stride towards the promotion and quality of the education sector in Balochistan. The female literacy rate remains lowest in Balochistan as compared to other provinces of the country. The education department issued appointment orders to more than 400 female senior science teachers (SSTs) in grade-17. The Balochistan Public Service Commission (BPSC) had recommended the female candidates for appointments in the education department.

The female teachers would be posted in all seven zones of Balochistan to improve the female literacy rate. Perhaps, this is for the first time that SSTs females have been appointed in such a large number in Balochistan. Their appointment in far-flung areas of Balochistan would help the education department to overcome the lack of female teachers.

3,200 government schools non-functional

In Balochistan, over 3,200 government-run primary, middle and high schools are non-functional. The major reason behind the non-functional schools was the lack of teachers. The education department should post the teachers as per requirement and bring an end to disproportion. For instance, a female teacher teaches more than 100 girls students in the Sariab Mill area of Quetta. Contrary to this, the students’ teacher ratio in some girls high schools located in the heart of Quetta city is one teacher for three students. This is an injustice with students and teachers in girl’s schools located in remote areas of Balochistan.

Female literacy rate paints a bleak picture

The female literacy rate paints a bleak picture in Balochistan. Although, the education department has no proper data about the exact percentage of male and female literacy rates. However, some unverified statistics of the education department suggest that the female literacy rate in Balochistan’s Dera Bugti district is only 2 %, district Sherani 7 %, and district Killa Abdullah 9 %. The newly appointed teachers would be posted in the middle and high schools of Balochistan. However, thousands of posts of female teachers are still lying vacant in primary schools of the province. The education department should expedite work on merit lists complied and prepared by testing service i.e. CTSP to make sure the appointment of thousands of teachers. Especially, the appointment of female teachers would improve the quality of education on the primary level.

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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.