QUETTA: At least 66% of children, between the ages of five and 16, in Balochistan, do not go to school, Alif Ailaan, a non-profit organisation working on education in the province, disclosed on Saturday.
During a press conference, held by the organisation in Quetta, it was revealed that in Balochistan, 1.8 million out of 2.7 million children are without any kind of education.
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“The dropout rate at primary schools is very alarming in Balochistan. Around 865,337 children enroll at primary schools and the rate increases to 191,300 when they reach middle school,” Sajid Hussain Changezi, an Alif Ailaan manager, told reporters.
Changezi added that 57% of children leave school without completing their education at the primary level.
During the conference, representatives of the nonprofit organisation urged the government to pay attention to the state of girls’ education in the province.
Furthermore, state-run schools in Balochistan are in precarious condition.
“There are a total 12,347 state-run schools in Balochistan, of which merely 6% are high schools. At least 76% of school-going children are enrolled at state-run schools, while 19% are studying at private schools and 5% are enrolled at religious seminaries,” Changezi said.
The organisation said there are 216 schools which are not functional and the quality of education is poor as compared to other provinces. Not a single district of Balochistan has topped any ranking in Pakistan when it comes to education. More than 14% of teachers do not attend the schools but draw salaries, while 37% schools are with single rooms.
In Barkhan district, 80% of the schools are with single rooms. The speakers in the seminar urged to pay more attention on child education in Balochistan, which is lagging far behind other provinces.
“Malala Yousafzai should also play her role in this regard and we are expecting that she will help the girls of Balochistan too,” said Dr Nashnas Lehri, an official of Alif Ailaan.
Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Malik has said his government does not have enough resources to overcome the challenges in the education sector. He also said his government needs Rs63 billion to increase enrolment in schools.
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@Haider: According to the budget documents, KP earmarked Rs 111 billion for the uplift of education sector, which is 27.4 per cent of its total budget of Rs 404.8 billion. The Punjab government has earmarked Rs 273 billion for education which is 26.1 per cent of the total budget outlay of Rs 1044 billion; and Sindh has earmarked Rs 154 billion for education which is about 22 per cent of the budget outlay of Rs 686 billion including Rs 134 billion for non-development expenditure, Rs 15 billion for different elementary, primary and secondary education schemes and Rs 5 billion for universities in Sindh. -------- So far the education budget is concerned KP & Punjab both have shown importance to it . The problem lies with it honest deployment in both the provinces. Sindh is no better.
Oh So alamring condidtion for Balochistan and Pakistan Government, they should take actions
@Sadistani: I think you forgot to read of the province's name, its written as BALUCHISTAN.....and not KPK :P
@Haider: Please wake up. Just check the total budget of KPK and calculate its 27%. Then look for total amount required for KPKs most celebrated Tameer I School scheme. They asked doners to fund this scheme which they failed to persue due to political activities in ISB THUS VITUALLY ABONDONE IT. Now if 27% was actually to be spent on education they would never require external donation which they requested. If they actually spend 10% of budget on schools the situation may change drastically. Also check the %age of schools in KPK without building, water, electricity and number of teachers still to be hired, through some indipendent critical analysits not PTI sources.
I wonder what role Malala can play in improving ovrrall educational attendence but of course fund raising from foreign donors. This wont help much. We have to devise viable wise polcy as eell as try change approach and attitude. If people dont have enough to eat and cover themselves, our NGOs keep on advocating book education for themand schools with facilities. These people can understand the importance of formal education while their brains filled with apprehensions of tomorrows meals and falling roofs of their mud houses. Please be practical and focus more on skill education. Devise policies at NGO, regional and national level for setting up skill schools as well as industry to provide them work and benefit from their skills too.
Education situation in Balochistan is grim. Same situation in our neighbhor Pakistan.
Shame on Baloochistan govt , what is the situation of the children education , i request to all Pakistani peoples to support to Imran khan and he will implement equal rule regulation in entire country . Wake up Pakistanio, JAAG Pakistanio, just get ride from the corrupt leaders and choose the right people and empower them for the better feature of your new generation. (Allah pak Pakistan ko apni aman mai rake. Ameen.
Just as excesses committed by Punjab dominated security forces targeting Baloch origin people such as enforced disappearances, extra judicial executions, torture, custodial rape, sponsoring death squad militia’s and the like have been resisted by the freedom yearning people of Balochistan; nefarious scheme of Punjabi Military dominated establishment of Pakistan of denying education to the Balochis will be thwarted. The 700,000 Punjabi dominated occupation forces will not succeed in dousing the fire of liberation in Balochistan as indeed was the case with the erstwhile East Pakistan which forms todays Bangladesh. Neither for that matter will the denial of education funding erase the knowledge of the Punjabi Establishments subjugation of the Baloch people.
India must provide fullest diplomatic and moral support to the Baloch freedom struggle. Consulates in Iran and Afghanistan must provide all necessary help.
What have successive govts headed by tribal leaders of different tribes of Baluchistan done for their , say own tribe ? NONE !
@Sadistani KPK is spending 27% of its budget on education....Do compare it with 6.5 yrs govt of Shabaz Sharif I ll say what IK did in 1.5 years >>>>> 6.5 yrs of Shabaz Sharif
Problems for non enrollment of children must have been identified. The probables may be comparatively inadequate resources ( low number of schools, insufficient teachers, school buildings,) distance from the villages, poverty of the people to afford the schooling, corrupt practices of non attendance of teachers for their job, Ghost schools and the willingness of the common men to send their children to school due to their belief ( particularly relating to girl child) . what is being done to remove the hurdles for child education? by all i.e. government, and persons responsible for governance and the society as a whole ? ------ Ask yourselves as to your own role in it and act . That is how i feel could be one step. Can we hope for the best ?
Sadistani... good one. Unfortunately most Pakistani won't understand your comment.
@Sadistani: Are you serious or was is sarcasm??
This is Imran Khan's fault. I mean what has he done in KPK?
malala should come forward to help children education in balochistan
This really needs to change.