Governor of Balochistan Emphasizes Education as a National Duty Amid Alarming Out-of-School Rates

Quetta: Governor of Balochistan, Jaffar Mandokhail, has stated that ensuring every child receives an education is a national responsibility. He expressed concern over the alarming number of out-of-school children in the province, estimating millions still without access to formal education. Despite these challenges, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to spreading the light of education across the province.

The governor was speaking at a graduation ceremony for students of the Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP), held in Quetta. He praised the initiative, supported by UNICEF and the Government of Norway, calling it an exemplary project that should be expanded throughout the province.

During the ceremony, certificates and gifts were distributed to the graduating students. The event was attended by senior officials from the education department, university vice-chancellors, and UNICEF representatives.

Governor Mandokhail acknowledged the lack of basic facilities in many public schools across several districts but emphasized that the government is working diligently to fulfill its responsibilities. “We do not lack resources, but delivering education to remote village levels remains a major challenge,” he added.

According to the Department of Education, with the support of UNICEF and Norway, the ALP has so far enabled 665 children to graduate at the primary level and 294 at the middle school level. The Balochistan government has announced plans to expand the reach of ALP centers to meet the goal of education for all.

Current statistics reveal that the literacy rate in Balochistan stands at just 42%, with female literacy at a mere 33%. Shockingly, around 2.94 million children aged 5 to 16 in the province remain out of school.