According to the 2013
annual ASER report, in Balochistan, only 34 per cent of government teachers
were graduates. Eighty-one per cent children between the ages of three and five
years were not enrolled in any early childhood schooling. Seventy-one per cent
of the schools had no drinking water, 75 per cent lacked boundary walls and 83
per cent lacked proper toilets.
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| Photo online |
This is indeed the 21st century and yet, a great number of
ghost schools exist in places like Dera Bugti, Zamuran, Kohlu and other rural
areas of Balochistan. Under these circumstances, the children and the youth of
the nation are deprived of education. Lamentably, Balochistan has less than
five public universities while, on the other hand, there are more than 25
universities in Lahore alone. It is owing to this inequality and discrimination
that a trust deficit has rooted itself deeply in the minds of the Baloch youth.
Keeping the failure of the
government in mind, Balochistan’s Minister for Education, Jam Mohammad Buledi,
said, “Not a single PhD or a competent officer is available to review the
textbooks or carry out monitoring and evaluation and hence, we are compelled to
teach the textbooks of Punjab.”
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| Photo The express Tribune |
The other side of the
picture can’t be neglected. There are some good institutes working throughout
the province. The recently established Turbat University situated in Kech
district has been functioning well for the last three years. Besides this,
private schools and language academies have largely contributed to the cause of
educating the masses.
Unfortunate, however, it must be noted that sending
children to private institutes seems to be beyond the capacity of poor
families. Ironically, in places like Chaghi and Reko Dik, where gold, copper
and semi-precious stones are found, people have difficulty in getting a meal
twice a day. In such a situation, how will they be able to send their children
to expensive private institutions?
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| Photo online |
Merely quoting depressing
statistics regarding education in Balochistan is not the solution. What counts
for the welfare and constructive development of the province is the interest
that the government vests in the respective field. To undo the appalling standards
of education in Balochistan, decentralisation and depoliticisation are the only
options left.
Published
in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2014.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/704950/state-of-education-in-balochistan/
Rast goshe babul
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