File photo: Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Sarfaraz Bugti speaking during the assembly session: Photo provided by the DGPR

Syed Ali Shah:

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti has reiterated his government’s commitment to improving the state of education in the province, with a strong focus on getting every child into school. During a speech in Quetta, the Chief Minister emphasized the importance of education for the province’s future, highlighting ongoing efforts to ensure that no child is left behind.

“The teachers will not be foreign. We are ready to recruit 10,000 local teachers on contract,” he stated. The Chief Minister also promised reforms in the examination system, vowing to eradicate the culture of copying and cheating in schools..

“I am very happy today that every child is now part of the school campaign,” said Bugti. He stressed that while schools have been built across Balochistan, issues such as delayed recruitment, teacher absenteeism, and the high number of children involved in child labor remain significant challenges.

“We have built schools, but we have not made proper arrangements,” Bugti acknowledged, urging critics to move beyond blame and work towards improving the situation. “Now, instead of criticizing, we should move forward.”

The Chief Minister pointed out that child labor has kept many children out of the classroom and noted that while 400 schools have been reactivated, the real success lies in ensuring that all schools across the province are operational. He set an ambitious target for 90 percent of schools to be functional within the next two months, a directive given to the Secretary of Education.

To address the shortage of teachers, Bugti announced the recruitment of 10,000 teachers on a contract basis, with a starting salary of 37,000 rupees. He emphasized that recruitment would be based on merit, with the highest-scoring candidates being selected. However, he made it clear that the government would not hire permanent teachers at this time, opting instead for contract-based positions.

Bugti further called on NGOs and social organizations to focus their efforts on Balochistan, urging them to contribute to the province’s education reforms. He expressed optimism that, with proper management and resources, Balochistan’s schools will soon be fully operational, ensuring every child receives quality education.

“We will make cuts in our PSDPs (Public Sector Development Programs), but we will enable schools,” he affirmed. “God willing, schools in Balochistan will open, and children will be in schools.”

The Chief Minister’s passionate appeal for the education sector underscores the government’s renewed focus on tackling long-standing issues within the system.

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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.