The Balochistan government twice shut down all private and public schools because of floods and heavy rainfall for 14 days. According to statistics obtained by the Express Tribune, most of the schools have been damaged by floods in the Lasbella district of the province. The number of damaged schools in district Lasbella is 321, the data revealed. Floods have also damaged 204 schools in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province. The education department has demanded of the Balochistan government to evolve a mechanism for the reconstruction of the damaged schools. The Secretary of Education Balochistan, Abdul Rauf Baloch has directed all concerned district education officers to assess the damages and prepare a comprehensive report about the damaged schools and their impacts on the education of the students.
File Photo: Girls students at TLC established in Naseerabad: Photo provided by UNICEF

Syed Ali Shah: 

QUETTA: In a groundbreaking meeting at his office, the Caretaker Provincial Minister of Education, Prof. Dr. Qadir Baloch, engaged in a fruitful discussion with UNICEF Pakistan’s representative, Abdullah Fadel, and his delegation. The purpose of the meeting was to apprise Prof. Dr. Baloch of the ongoing education projects being undertaken by UNICEF in the province.

Detailed Briefing:

During the meeting, a comprehensive briefing was provided to Prof. Dr. Qadir Baloch regarding UNICEF’s relentless efforts to uplift the education sector in Balochistan. The Caretaker Provincial Minister, in response, expressed his unwavering commitment to addressing the education challenges that the province faces.

Acknowledging Progress:

Prof. Dr. Baloch commended UNICEF’s noteworthy contributions to improving education, particularly in the remote and underprivileged regions of the province. He emphasized that the partnership between the provincial government and UNICEF has played a pivotal role in resolving educational issues, as indicated in a recent UNICEF report.

Key Challenges:

The report shed light on pressing challenges in the education sector, including the absence of washroom facilities in approximately 4,000 schools, a majority of which are girls’ schools. Additionally, a staggering 6,700 schools in the province have only one teacher, severely affecting the quality of education provided.

UNICEF’s Vital Role:

Prof. Dr. Qadir Baloch underscored UNICEF’s pivotal role as a significant donor agency in Balochistan’s education sector. He expressed optimism that through enhanced coordination between the Department of Education and UNICEF, the number of schools lacking essential facilities could be reduced to 3,600. He also pledged to expedite efforts in this direction.

The collaborative efforts of UNICEF and the Caretaker Provincial Minister of Education, Prof. Dr. Qadir Baloch, are set to usher in a new era of educational transformation in Balochistan. With a shared vision and concerted actions, the province looks forward to providing quality education and essential facilities to its students, paving the way for a brighter future.

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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.