Pakistan: 542 more schools closed in Balochistan, 16,000 teachers needed to deal with the crisis

Amid the deteriorating education system in Balochistan, a recent report by the Education Department revealed that 542 additional schools have been closed under the current government, and the process of closure is continuing, The Balochistan Post reported.

The education department of Balochistan has released a report on school closures in the province. According to the report, 16,000 teachers are needed to reopen the closed schools.

By May this year, the number of closed schools had reached 3,152. By September 2, the number of closed schools had risen to 3,694 in 35 districts, the Balochistan Post reported. The highest number of closed schools is in Pishin, where 254 schools have been shut down, while the lowest is in Dera Bugti, where 13 schools are non-functional.

The Balochistan Education Department further stated that by 2021, 1.2 million children in Balochistan will be out of school, which is more than 70 percent of school-going children in the province, and 7,000 teaching positions remain vacant, reports Balochistan Post.

Since then the situation has worsened, with schools remaining closed and a shortage of teachers increasing the number of children not attending school.

This comes as the education system in Balochistan continues to suffer significant degradation due to underfunding and a lack of resources. Schools and colleges across the province often lack essential amenities such as clean drinking water, functional toilets and electricity, severely impacting the quality of education.

Many schools in Balochistan suffer from poor infrastructure, including inadequate buildings, a lack of basic facilities, and insufficient teaching materials. Rural and remote areas often face the greatest challenges.

Enrolment rates in Balochistan, particularly for girls, are low compared to other regions of Pakistan. Contributing factors include socio-cultural norms, security concerns, and economic barriers.

The World Bank has found that inadequate teacher training further exacerbates these problems, leading to a decline in the quality of education. Administrative corruption and favouritism also plague the sector. Overall literacy rates and educational attainment levels in Balochistan are lower than in other provinces, affecting opportunities for higher education and employment.