0.58 mln children of Balochistan out of school: I-SAP

QUETTA: Institute of Social and Policy Science (I-SAP) has revealed in its report that about 0.58 million children do not go to school in Balochistan province.

Speaking in All Parties Consultation Meeting on Condition of Education in Balochistan held here Monday, Ali Ahmed, Director of I-SAP said " According to data collected by the government and non-governmental organizations, about 0.58 million children were not enrolled in schools in Balochistan".

He said that total number of schools in Balochistan is 12,293 and out of them, 8,092 are without boundary wall, 846 have no roof, 9,579 have no electricity facility and 8,827 have no toilets.

He regretted that 35 months have passed after passage of 18th Amendment into the Constitution and the Education Department has been transferred to the provinces but the Balochistan government yet to form its education policy.

Quoting a policy report, he said that Balochistan province would need 3,208 new schools, 6,600 rooms for existing schools and 21,789 new teachers during next 15 years.

He lamented that although Rs 22.9 billion were allocated for Education sector in financial budget of Balochistan adding that but neither the Balochistan's Education Policy is formed on data basis nor the Education budget is finalised on policy basis.

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid held political parties responsible for recruiting their political activists against the posts of government teachers. "A large number of activities of political parties have been recruited as government teachers who still work for these parties instead imparting education in schools and even members of central and provincial executive committees of several political parties working in Balochistan are government teachers," Shahid said.

He said that how standard of education in government schools could be improved when teachers are being recruited only on political basis with sheer violation of merit.

Pashtoonkhawa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) leader Kabir Afghan said that influential persons have occupied several government schools premises in Quetta.He said that according to a recent survey, 500 schools of Quetta need 38,000 desks for students and 800 bathrooms.

Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Nawabzada Lashkari Raisnai, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf leader Qasim Soori, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Haque Hashmi, National Party leader Aslam Baloch, Hazara Democratic Party leader Muhammad Raza Wakeel and Jamhori Watan Party leader Rubina Shah also spoke on the occasion.