By: Ch Shabbir Balochistani
Published By:ANI News Agency
Education has always been one of the biggest challenges facing Balochistan. Its vast geographical area, scattered and remote settlements, shortage of teachers, non-functional schools, inadequate infrastructure, limited opportunities for girls, and, above all, high dropout rates have continued to place the education sector under enormous pressure. In this challenging environment, the two-and-a-half-year performance of Provincial Education Minister Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani should be assessed not merely through political statements, but on the basis of practical measures, projects and institutional reforms.
- Revival of Non-Functional Schools — A Major Achievement
One of the most notable developments during the current period has been the reactivation of more than 3,100 schools. According to the provincial education authorities, this initiative has created renewed educational opportunities for approximately 81,000 children.
For a province like Balochistan, this is far from a minor achievement. A non-functional school is not merely an inactive building; it effectively deprives an entire community of educational opportunities for its children.
The initiative is particularly significant because making existing educational infrastructure functional can provide access to education to a large number of children within a relatively short period, compared with the time and resources required to construct new schools.
- A Strict Policy Against Cheating and Improvement of the Examination System
The Education Minister has repeatedly emphasized eliminating the culture of cheating in examinations. Measures aimed at improving transparency in the examination system and action against cheating in areas including Kohlu have been presented as an important component of the government’s education reforms.
This policy is important because increasing the number of schools alone cannot improve the quality of education. Transparency in examinations, merit and credibility of academic assessments are equally fundamental to a functional education system.
- Balochistan Education Support Programme — BES Phase-II
Progress has also been made on the Balochistan Education Support Programme (BES Phase-II), being implemented with the cooperation of the Government of Balochistan and UNICEF. Activities related to this five-year programme were undertaken in June 2026 under the supervision of the Education Minister.
The programme has the potential to provide an important foundation for improving access to education, increasing enrolment, bringing out-of-school children into the formal education system and strengthening educational facilities.
- Encouragement of Higher Education and Universities
The Education Minister has also participated in and supported activities at universities and higher education institutions across Balochistan. At the third convocation of the University of Turbat, she appreciated the institution’s performance and highlighted that the number of academic programmes had increased from 30 to 62, while MPhil, MS and PhD programmes had also been introduced.
This development indicates the importance being attached to expanding higher education opportunities for the youth of Balochistan within the province itself.
- Revival of College Libraries and Provision of Modern Books
In September 2026, an initiative was also undertaken to provide modern and quality books to the libraries of 21 male and female colleges in Quetta.
Although this may appear to be a relatively simple measure, a library is, in reality, the intellectual heart of any educational institution. If such initiatives are linked with digital libraries, research journals, competitive examination material and modern scientific resources on a permanent basis, their impact could be far greater.
- Linking Education with Sports and Youth Development
The Education Minister has also identified the promotion of sports among young people as a government priority. In November 2025, she stated that promoting sports among the youth was among the government’s priorities.
This approach is important because modern education is not limited to textbooks and examinations. It is a combination of education, physical health, sports, character development and creativity.
Overall Assessment
A broader assessment of the last two-and-a-half years reveals five major areas of focus in the education sector under Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani:
Revival of schools, expansion of access to education, examination transparency, encouragement of higher education, and improvement of the academic environment within educational institutions.
However, Balochistan’s educational crisis is so extensive that simply declaring a few projects successful would not be sufficient. The real measure of success will be whether these initiatives lead to clear and sustainable improvements in literacy rates, enrolment, attendance, learning outcomes and dropout rates.
My Suggestions for the Next Phase
- Establish an Education Performance Dashboard for every district.
Monthly data on the number of schools, students, teachers, attendance, non-functional schools and examination results should be made publicly available for every district. - Adopt a “No School Non-Functional” policy.
The restoration of more than 3,100 schools is a significant achievement, but these institutions now require continuous monitoring to ensure that they do not become non-functional again. - Give special priority to girls’ education.
In remote areas, girls’ schools, transportation, safe educational environments and, where necessary, hostel facilities can play a fundamental role in reducing dropout rates. - Focus on teachers’ attendance and quality.
Appointing teachers alone is not enough. Continuous professional training, merit-based postings, digital attendance systems and performance-based evaluation are essential. - Establish modern model schools in every division.
Such institutions should offer modern facilities for science, information technology, English, mathematics, libraries and sports so that children from Balochistan do not have to migrate to major cities merely to access quality education. - Make AI, IT and technical education part of the curriculum.
The youth of Balochistan should not be restricted to conventional academic degrees. They should be equipped with modern skills such as coding, artificial intelligence, freelancing, digital marketing, cybersecurity and other technical competencies. - Transform the library initiative into a Digital Library Mission.
Instead of limiting the initiative to 21 colleges, it should gradually be expanded to colleges and major schools across Balochistan. - Publish an annual Education Performance Report.
The Education Minister should issue a comprehensive public report every year outlining how many schools were made functional, how many children were enrolled, how many teachers received training, what changes occurred in educational outcomes, and what targets have been set for the following year.
Final Assessment
In my view, the most positive aspect of Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani’s tenure has been the fact that the Education Department’s focus has not remained confined to the construction of new buildings. Attention has also been given to restoring non-functional institutions, improving the examination system, promoting higher education, strengthening libraries and encouraging youth activities.
The restoration of more than 3,100 schools and the reopening of educational opportunities for approximately 81,000 children constitute one of the most significant and noteworthy developments of this period.
However, the next phase is even more important: from access to quality, from schools to learning outcomes, and from individual projects to lasting institutional reforms.
If this direction is maintained and strengthened, the Education Department of Balochistan can evolve beyond being merely an administrative institution and become one of the most powerful engines of social and economic transformation in the province.
