QUETTA: In a major educational turnaround, the Balochistan government has successfully reactivated 3,144 schools that were previously closed, marking a historic achievement for the province.
The initiative, led by Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti and spearheaded by Provincial Education Minister Raheela Hamid Khan Durrani, has brought functional education back to more than 81,000 children. This effort has revived 81% of the 3,862 schools that were once non-functional.
“The future of our province is linked with education, and we are ensuring that no child is left behind,” stated Minister Durrani, highlighting the government’s commitment.
The success was driven by a large-scale recruitment and redistribution campaign. The government appointed 2,789 new teachers in three phases and reactivated an additional 290 schools by strategically reallocating existing staff. The initiative received crucial support from organizations like the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) and the Balochistan Education Foundation (BECS), as well as the Pakistan Army and local Deputy Commissioners.
Districts across Balochistan showed remarkable progress. Pishin led with 230 schools reopened and 10,076 new students enrolled, followed by Khuzdar with 7,394 and Awaran with 6,529 new enrollments. Significant improvements were also recorded in remote areas like Zhob and Naseerabad.
With the schools now open, the government’s focus is shifting to ensuring their long-term sustainability. The priorities include providing essential facilities and guaranteeing a consistent presence of teachers, cementing this as the most extensive educational revival effort in Balochistan’s history.
Also read: Balochistan reopens 32,00 non-functional schools
On World Teachers’ Day, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti honored educators as the nation’s builders and announced major reforms in the province’s education sector, headlined by the merit-based recruitment of 16,000 teachers .
In his message, the Chief Minister hailed teachers as “the architects of our children’s bright future,” emphasizing that their contributions and sacrifices are unforgettable . He reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to education and teacher welfare, stating that empowering educators is a top priority for the provincial government .
CM Bugti highlighted the government’s transformative strides in educational governance. He announced the successful completion of a “historical step” – the merit-based recruitment of 16,000 teachers .
He underscored the transparency of this massive hiring process, noting that 99.9 percent merit was ensured, guaranteeing that only the most qualified and capable candidates were selected for these crucial roles .
The Chief Minister reiterated the government’s resolve to provide quality education for every child in Balochistan . He stressed that the dignity and empowerment of teachers are fundamental to social progress, asserting that “an honorable and empowered teacher is the one who can lay the foundation for a civilized and developed society” .
