3m children out of school in Balochistan

Education minister says girls to be provided transport facility to increase enrollment

QUETTA:

Over three million children are not enrolled at schools in Balochistan, and the government will address the concerns of the parents to bring out-of-schools children to the educational institutes.

It was stated by Balochistan Education Minister Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani during the National Achievement Test (NAT) launched by the Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE) on Thursday.

She highlighted the severity of the crisis, calling for urgent corrective measures.

This revelation comes in a backdrop of a worrisome national scenario as Pakistan is one the countries with the highest number of out-of-school children globally, exceeding 26 million. Balochistan, where an education emergency has been declared, mirrors this broader national crisis. Despite attempts to enforce Article 25-A of the Constitution, which guarantees free and compulsory education for children aged 5 to 16, the situation remains critical.

The minister identified the high number of out-of-school children as the foremost challenge for the current government in Balochistan.

She asserted, “We are committed to ensuring maximum enrollment,” expressing frustration over the lack of action on proposed solutions, such as solarizing government-run schools to protect children from extreme weather conditions.

The recommendations aimed at creating a more favorable learning environment have yet to gain cabinet approval.

The minister voiced particular concern about the rising number of out-of-school girls in the province, describing the trend as ‘alarming’.

In response, the government has decided to provide transportation facilities to girls, aiming to lower dropout rates and enhance access to education.

The NAT, conducted biennially, assesses students in Grades 4 and 8 across various subjects. The 2023 survey results for Balochistan showed that 4th graders scored an average of 40 percent in math, while 8th graders averaged 31 percent. Scores in English and Urdu were slightly better, with averages above 50 percent, consistent with national averages.

Director General of PIE, Dr Shahid Soroya, emphasized the importance of collaboration with the Balochistan Assessment and Examination Commission (BAEC) and the School Education Department, government of Balochistan (SEC).