Qaseem Shah, Education Desk:Â
QUETTA — In a groundbreaking move to overhaul Balochistan education, the provincial government has announced radical changes to public schools, completely eliminating primary school uniforms and shifting toward a universal co-education model.
​The historic policy changes were made during a high-level development meeting chaired by the Chief Minister of Balochistan, Mir Sarfraz Bugti. Aimed at breaking down socio-economic barriers and rapidly boosting the literacy rate across the province, these directives represent the most aggressive modern reform agenda for government schools in recent years.
​Chief Minister Ends ‘Taat Culture’ with Strict Warning
​A major highlight of the meeting was the Chief Minister’s definitive crackdown on the archaic “jute-mat culture” (Taat culture) that has plagued rural institutions for decades.
​The Chief Minister of Balochistan expressed fierce frustration that students are still forced to sit on bare floors while the rest of the world utilizes modern facilities.
No Child Will Sit On Floor
​”No child in any Balochistan school will sit on a floor mat anymore; every single student will be provided a proper classroom desk,” Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti stated. “Nurturing the self-confidence and respecting the inner dignity of our children is the absolute need of the hour.”
​The Secretary of the Schools Education Department has been ordered to immediately mobilize and distribute desks to every active institution. Setting a hard deadline, the Chief Minister warned that if a single child is found sitting on a mat after the designated timeline, strict disciplinary action will be taken. To guarantee compliance, the CM announced he will personally conduct unannounced aerial inspections via helicopter, landing in remote mountainous terrains and rural valleys to catch negligence first-hand.
​No More Uniforms:
Breaking Financial Barriers for Families
​To make entering the education system entirely frictionless for underprivileged families, the government has officially abolished the school uniform requirement at the primary level. Parents will no longer face the financial strain of purchasing specific attire just to get their children into a classroom.
​Furthermore, to maximize limited rural infrastructure and bridge the severe gender literacy gap, the administration has decided to classify primary institutions as “gender-free.” Under this new co-education framework, young boys and girls will study alongside one another under a single roof. This proposed policy will be formally presented at the upcoming Balochistan Cabinet meeting for final approval.
​Infrastructure Expansion: 3,000 New Classrooms & Double Shifts
​During the high-level session, Chief Secretary Balochistan Shakeel Qadir Khan provided an operational briefing on physical upgrades. To successfully accommodate the anticipated influx of new students under the relaxed rules, the government will launch double-shift teaching operations in 900 active schools.
​Additionally, the province has committed to constructing extra classrooms in 3,000 single-room schools across Balochistan by next year, effectively expanding the network’s physical footprint. To ensure standardized learning quality across all districts, a newly approved, uniform reading and writing curriculum will also be integrated across all public institutions.
