By: Abdul Ghaffar Bugti
Balochistan’s education system is in severe crisis, leaving millions of children unable to attend school.
Nearly half of the province’s total population consists of children, with a total of 7.231 million.
However, a shocking 3 million (41%) children are deprived of basic education.
This educational deprivation is pushing Balochistan’s future into uncertainty, and experts warn that this backwardness in education may further fuel extremism.
Alarming State of Schools in Balochistan
According to government statistics, Balochistan has 15,096 registered schools.
However, 22% (3,321 schools) are completely non-functional.
Additionally, 50% (7,548 schools) operate with just one classroom, where dozens of students struggle to receive education without basic facilities.
A more alarming fact is that 81% (12,228 schools) offer only primary-level education, making it impossible for many children to continue to middle or high school.
This educational deficiency is not only a major obstacle to Balochistan’s development but also a significant contributor to future social and economic problems.
Shortage of Teachers and Neglect of Rural Areas
Balochistan has a total of 48,841 teachers, but the province needs an additional 12,000 teachers to meet its educational needs.
Moreover, 7,000 teachers (15%) are stationed in Quetta, further reducing educational access in remote districts.
The shortage of female teachers is also a significant concern. There are 12,210 female teachers in the province.
However, 80% of them are based in Quetta, leading to a severe lack of girls’ schools in rural areas.
The unequal distribution of teachers remains one of the biggest obstacles to girls’ education in Balochistan, further widening the gender disparity in education.
Poor Educational Infrastructure
Around 3,000 schools in Balochistan lack proper roofs, forcing students to halt learning activities during rain or harsh weather conditions.
Additionally, 75% (7,500 schools) operate with only one classroom, and in 22 out of 35 districts, more than half of the schools have only one or two rooms.
This situation is severely affecting the quality of education, leading to poor student learning outcomes.
According to government assessments, only 26% of primary-level students can read basic sentences, while only 30% can perform basic arithmetic operations (addition and subtraction).
Low Literacy Rate and High Dropout Rates
One of the most serious aspects of Balochistan’s education crisis is its high dropout rate.
Around 70% of children drop out after completing primary education.
Only 35% of students continue to high school, while only 1% make it to university.
One of the major reasons for this educational decline is the increasing trend of cheating in exams.
Due to a lack of proper educational facilities and quality learning environments, many students focus only on obtaining degrees rather than acquiring actual knowledge and skills, further weakening the overall educational standard.
Education Budget and Government Performance
Balochistan’s education budget stands at 87 billion rupees, yet only 12 billion rupees are allocated for development expenditures.
This weak educational policy has led to a literacy rate of just 27%, the lowest among all provinces of Pakistan.
The lack of educational and employment opportunities is forcing 7,000 educated youth to leave Balochistan every year.
Over the past five years, 31,607 individuals have migrated from the province in search of better education and job opportunities.
The provincial government provides only 20,000 jobs annually, of which only 5,000 are suitable for educated individuals, worsening the unemployment crisis among Balochistan’s youth.
The Consequences and the Way Forward
Experts believe that if Balochistan’s education system is not improved, extremism, unemployment, health crises, and economic instability will continue to rise.
Providing quality education can reduce the influence of extremist elements, offer young people positive development opportunities, and help transform Balochistan into a stable and prosperous province.
To address this crisis, the following measures are essential:
Revival of non-functional schools and provision of basic facilities.
Balanced deployment of teachers to ensure equal educational opportunities in both urban and rural areas.
Special focus on girls’ education and an increase in the number of female teachers.
Linking employment policies with education to ensure job opportunities for graduates.
The people of Balochistan and education advocates expect the government to take immediate and practical steps to resolve this crisis and secure a brighter future for the next generation.
