Approved coeducation for primary schools; Desks, additional classrooms and double shifts are planned.
QUETA:
The Balochistan government has announced sweeping reforms aimed at modernizing learning environments and ensuring equal opportunities for boys and girls.
Chaired by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, a high-level meeting focusing on education, health and law and order resulted in a consensus to prioritize these sectors in the next financial year’s budget.
The most innovative decision is to declare all public primary schools gender-free. Under the new policy, boys and girls will study together in the same classrooms and the mandatory requirement of school uniform will be removed. This initiative, once approved by the provincial cabinet, will be implemented across Balochistan to promote social harmony and gender equality while optimizing limited resources.
A highlight of the meeting was the complete elimination of “Tat Culture”, a practice in which students in remote areas sit on bags or mats instead of proper furniture. Expressing deep anger, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti said that while the world has moved towards the 21st century, it is shameful that children in remote regions of Balochistan are still deprived of basic dignity. “No child will ever sit on a tattoo again,” he declared. The government will provide desks and chairs to all students in all functional public schools. Bugti directed the School Education Secretary to take immediate action and warned that officials who failed to comply after the deadline would face strict disciplinary action.
Demonstrating personal commitment, the Chief Minister announced that he would personally carry out surprise inspections and even land by helicopter in mountainous and remote areas to check the conditions of schools.
Additional reforms include the introduction of double shift systems in 900 public schools to increase enrollment capacity and the construction of additional classrooms in 3,000 single-room schools over the next year. Teachers working under the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) will receive significant pay rises after years of frozen salaries. A uniform curriculum and standardized reading and writing materials will also be introduced in all public schools to ensure consistent quality.
Balochistan Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan gave a detailed briefing on the current challenges faced by single classroom schools. The meeting acknowledged that Balochistan’s literacy rate remains far below the national average, particularly in rural, tribal and remote regions. These reforms seek to expand access to quality education and empower children to contribute to the development of the province.
Addressing the participants, Chief Minister Bugti stressed that educating children is not only the responsibility of parents but also a collective duty of the society and the State. “Our vision is to create a progressive Balochistan where every child receives quality education and becomes a catalyst for progress,” he said.
The meeting was attended by senior education officials and relevant secretaries.
