Mixture approved for primary schools; offices, additional classrooms and double shifts planned
QUETTA:
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 reached a consensus to prioritize these sectors in the next fiscal year’s budget.
The most revolutionary decision is to declare all public primary schools gender neutral. Under the new policy, boys and girls will study together in the same classrooms and the requirement for school uniforms 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.
One of the highlights of the meeting was the complete elimination of ‘Tat Culture’, a practice where students in remote areas sit on bags or mats instead of proper furniture. Expressing deep anger, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti said that even though the world has entered the 21st century, it is shameful that children in remote areas of Balochistan are still deprived of their basic dignity. “No child will sit on a tat again,” he said. The government will provide desks and chairs to every student in all functioning public schools. Bugti ordered the Secretary of School Education to take immediate action and warned that officials who failed to comply after the deadline would face strict disciplinary action.
Showing personal commitment, the Chief Minister announced that he would personally conduct surprise inspections, even going to the extent of landing helicopters in mountainous and remote areas to check school conditions.
Other 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 one-room schools over the next year. Teachers working under the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) will receive significant salary increases after years of salary freezes. 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 provided a detailed briefing on the current challenges faced by one-room schools. The meeting acknowledged that Balochistan’s literacy rate remains well below the national average, especially in rural, tribal and remote areas. These reforms aim to expand access to quality education and give children the means to contribute to the development of the province.
Addressing the participants, Chief Minister Bugti emphasized that education of children is not only the responsibility of parents but also the collective duty of 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.
Senior education officials and concerned secretaries attended the meeting.
