Syed Ali Shah, Ali Hamza:Â
Quetta: The Balochistan government has initiated a major push to reform the education sector, focusing on enrolling out-of-school children and restoring non-functional institutions. As part of this province-wide campaign, thousands of children have already returned to classrooms, signaling a renewed commitment to improving access to education.
To showcase these developments, a high-level ceremony was held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti attended as the chief guest, alongside Education Minister Rahila Hamid Durrani, Secondary Education Secretary Lal Jan Jaffar, and senior officials.
Officials revealed that over 3,700 previously closed schools have been reactivated across the province. These revived institutions have enrolled approximately 100,000 children, marking a significant milestone in addressing the education gap in Balochistan.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Bugti stressed that transparency has been strictly upheld in the recruitment of more than 12,000 teachers, claiming near-complete adherence to merit. He noted that eliminating the long-standing practice of selling government jobs was one of his administration’s top priorities.
He further acknowledged that past shortcomings had weakened education indicators but maintained that the current government is introducing meaningful reforms to reverse the trend.
Despite these gains, challenges remain. According to education officials, a substantial portion of children—around 58%—are still out of school, largely because they have exceeded the standard age for enrollment.
The event highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to rebuild the education system and ensure wider access to schooling across Balochistan.
