Balochistan is the largest and least populated province of Pakistan and is often called the heart of Pakistan because of its strategic location and natural resources. However, despite vast natural resources, it still remains deprived of basic amenities as compared to other provinces of Pakistan.
As per the recent national census, the current population of Balochistan is approximately 14.9 million, whereas over 3 million children remain out of school, giving the province the highest proportion of out-of-school children in Pakistan.
Considering the concerns of this surging ratio, I interviewed a primary school teacher at Government Girls Primary School Sari Gowniki, Sharrak, Ms. Bilqees Begum, who is a primary school teacher teaching not more than 50 students from her village, to know what fuels this issue. Since the number of students enrolled at the only girls’ school in her village left me puzzled, I felt obliged to visit her school and her village.
The residents of this village welcomed me with hospitality and offered me unforgettable hospitality. Afterwards, I asked them about their children, especially girls, and whether they were enrolled in a school. Ms. Bilqees sounded pessimistic. “Schools and education are not something someone like me is able to afford for her children,” she said. Upon this, I insisted that a primary school is right next to her home, with teachers actively teaching. “I understand, but it is only a matter of time before her primary schooling is completed. What next? Do you think I can afford to send her to a city for higher education? And you cannot be ignorant of the fact that the current functional primary school in our village is on the verge of failing.”
Her concerns were understandably shared by the remaining population of the village, too.
It is a matter of fact that we might have been given access to primary and secondary education, but what is really concerning for the majority of families is the pursuit of higher education, which is extremely exorbitant given the surging inflation.
Furthermore, I had a small talk with two teachers at the school, Ms. Bilqees Begum and Ms. Gulshan who have been managing the school alone with absolutely no basic facilities that are required to create a learning environment for the students. Since I was present myself, I could witness the lack of drinkable water, proper gates for the school, and, worst of all, no electricity. I was drastically flabbergasted by the high temperature in the town and the absence of fans for the students.
How could someone even tolerate the extreme heat without proper ventilation? This question lingers in my mind.
It creates an unfavorable environment for both the teachers and students. Despite the conditions, the teachers still chose to provide fundamental education to their students. They did not consider the hardships and struggles of teaching in unbearable heat but continued to do so with passion. Their hard work and willingness to go beyond everything to guide their students deserve appreciation.
Even though teachers’ dedication to compromising on everything for a student’s life cannot set aside the fact that the government has been extremely ignorant towards the education system of Balochistan, it is not the only school that lacks facilities. As per the statistics, only 21% of public schools in Balochistan have electricity, compared to 99% in Punjab. Moreover, 29% have drinkable water, just 0.3% have toilets, and more than half of the schools lack boundary walls, eventually ranking last among all other provinces of Pakistan in regard to having every necessity essential to sustain life.
To move forward, it is very unfortunate to see a Baloch child, almost 15 years old, in a reel shared on social media. He clearly stated that his teacher told him not to waste time studying. Instead of spending time in school, he could work and earn money. Schooling takes almost 14 years, and if he works for those 14 years, he will earn enough money to buy a government job which is the ultimate goal.
The government schools in Balochistan neither have a proper learning environment nor adequate facilities, but we do have private schools that have been able to provide basic knowledge and a roadmap to pursue future goals. But can every single family in Balochistan afford the expensive cost of a private school when Balochistan has the highest poverty rate in Pakistan?
Therefore, the government must take responsibility for investigating the fragile school system in the province. It must take every possible measure to provide a satisfactory platform for learning to destitute families. Because when a child is properly educated, it does not bring prosperity only to his family but also to the nation.
