By Naseebullah Achakzai.
M.Phil Political Science
Balochistan has been facing a serious and pathetic situation of educational decline.
From school sector to colleges and University level, the posture of education is
dismal. Low literacy rate, shortage of teaching staff and buildings, lack of water,
boundary wall and toilet facilities, out of school children, low enrolment ratio,
maladministration , drop out and the dearth of institutional capacity building are
grave issues, which need to be addressed.
Dolefuly, the literacy rate of 45.3% is rueful. According to statistical data of
Balochistan education department 2017_18, in the province, 14 percent of the
schools are without shelter. 47% have no drinking of Water, while 29 % are without
Toilets. Moreover, 79% have no electricity and computer lab is available only in 1.7
% of Schools. The dismal situation further accelerates regarding the lack of teaching
Staff. The Students-Teacher ratio is 19.2 %. 2.3 million children are out of school
while the survival ratio to grade 5 is only 41 percent. only 28 percent of Teaching
Staff has Master degree while 38 percent are Graduate. Teachers lack basic
training. The role of government Institutions like PITE and Academy for lecturer is
deplorable. The dearth of educational institutions is another issue. one primary
School is located after every 30 KMs, while a Middle school is located at 260 KMs
and a High schools is located at 360 KMs. Apart from this, 1800 Schools are
dysfunctional with 5000 ghost teaching staff. 6000 Schools are run by a single
teacher. Most of the Teachers are unqualified. Observing the dismal scenario, the
USAID and UNICEF observed that the province has no primary framework which
explicitly focused on Teachers performance development.
The educational quality in colleges and Universities is dreary too. How can Only 104
Colleges and 9 Universities fulfil the needs of higher education of 12.3 Million
people?. 60% of the Students do not quench the thirst of knowledge after Matric.
Nepotism has been a serious threat to college education. The affluent lecturers
attach themselves to the directorate of colleges in the capital and do not fulfil their
duties in their respected colleges. Resultantly the sufferers are the students. As far
as higher education is concerned, the situation is bleak too. How would it be possible
for the people of far-flung areas of Balochistan to acquire education in the capital, in
the presence of sever poverty. Ample number of students are deprived of getting
admission in Master and M.Phil or Ph.D. courses due to burden of students On the
Universities.
Private schools have become a Mafia and exploiter in the province. There are
around 2800 private Schools, with sky-high fees. Despite the decision of the
Supreme court of Pakistan, these exploiters have been taking full fee during winter
vacation. The teaching staff of myriad of schools is undereducated and poorly
skilled. They are hired on fewer salary, many of whom are Matric passed. The
government has failed to inspect the schools and the eligibility of the staff.
The educational woes in Balochistan demand pragmatic steps to overcome. Brawny
decisions are the needed. The government must materialize vigilant, short, medium
and long term policies. Only viable good governance followed by meritocracy and
saying no to favouritism and nepotism can save the downfall of education in the
province.
