Quetta – Balochistan’s Education Minister, Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani, said the province’s biggest challenge is the large number of out-of-school children and the lack of accurate data on dropout rates.
Speaking at a policy roundtable, she emphasized that effective measures will be taken to reduce dropouts, particularly among girls.
The meeting was organized by the Data and Research in Education–Research Consortium (DARE-RC) and brought together government officials, education experts, and development organizations.
British High Commission education adviser Saleem Salahmah highlighted the need to connect research with reforms, while Education Secretary Asfandyar Khan Kakar stressed that incorporating local research into government policy is an urgent necessity.
Balochistan consistently records the highest proportion of out-of-school children in Pakistan.
Estimates from education surveys over the past decade indicate that roughly half of school-age children—millions across the province—are not enrolled in primary or secondary education.
Rural districts, where settlements are scattered and infrastructure is sparse, show the widest gaps. Girls are disproportionately affected due to early marriages, cultural restrictions, long travel distances, and a shortage of female teachers.
Key drivers include limited budget allocation for education, inadequate school buildings, teacher shortages, and weak data systems that make it difficult to track attendance or dropout rates accurately.
Security concerns in some areas and the need for children to contribute to household income also play a role.
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Provincial authorities and NGOs have launched initiatives such as community-based schools, conditional cash transfers for families, and teacher-training programs, but sustained investment, reliable statistics, and stronger monitoring are essential to bring these children into classrooms and keep them there.
