Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest and richest province, accounting for 47 percent of the total land area. Balochistan has such a wealth of mineral resources, but it also has a lot of challenges including illiteracy, health issues, poverty, and so on.
These are the primary causes of Balochistan’s underdevelopment, and they have left the province in a deplorable state.
Education is regarded as a fundamental human right of every individual to acquire it, and it possesses the power to develop a nation. When we look at Balochistan, we can see that education is the key issue.
Balochistan has a total literacy rate of 41 percent, however, female literacy is only 29 percent, while male literacy is 56 percent, which is lower than that of the other provinces. It reflects the province’s dismal female education situation.
Aside from that, according to a survey, 22.8 million children aged 15 to 16 are illiterate. In addition, 11.4 million children aged 10 to 14 are not receiving a formal education.
Furthermore, 78 percent of females are not educated and are only engaged in domestic works, such as washing clothing, cooking, and cleaning homes. Early and forced marriages are also a direct consequence of the prevalence of illiteracy in the region.
In total, there are 11627 primary schools, 1,271 middle schools, and 947 high schools in Balochistan. Among these 9,247 schools experience one of the biggest challenges due to scarcity of water, and many students travel home for water during school the school day. On the other hand, 5,296 schools have one teacher and one classroom.
Balochistan’s primary schools, in particular, are appalling. More than a hundred youngsters come to learn there; how can they be comfortable in one class for at least 4 to 5 hours, and how can one teacher handle the duties of at least four or six subject areas? Teachers and students in these schools confront a variety of challenges and are unable to learn peacefully.
Similarly, 9838 schools in the province lack restrooms, while 7900 schools lack boundaries. So, how can one obtain information and knowledge in such dreadful schools? Aside from the educational standards of the schools, they are deficient in fundamental requirements.
Finally, I request that all department of education officials take immediate steps to address this concern in Balochistan. And supply the fundamental necessities of said deplorable schools, as well as provide staff for schools; as Balochistan ought to have a decent education.