Balochistan Government Decides to Remove Uniform Requirement, Declare Primary Schools ‘Gender-Free’ Under Major Education Reforms

QUETTA: The Government of Balochistan has taken a principled decision to abolish the uniform requirement in public primary schools and declare all primary educational institutions “gender-free,” allowing boys and girls to study in the same schools.

The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, which reviewed reforms in education, health, and law and order, along with priority initiatives for the upcoming provincial budget.

Officials said the move aims to address multiple challenges, including the shortage of female teachers in remote areas, limited educational resources, and the financial burden of school uniforms on low-income families. Under the new policy direction, both boys and girls will be able to receive primary education in the same institutions.

The meeting also approved a comprehensive plan to eliminate the “mat culture” from government schools across the province. The Chief Minister directed the School Education Department to ensure the provision of desks in all public schools, stating that no child should be required to sit on the floor during classes.

To increase literacy rates and improve school enrollment, the government decided to introduce a double-shift system in 900 schools across the province. Officials said the initiative would maximize the use of existing infrastructure and accommodate thousands of additional students.

The meeting also recommended that the proposed policy of declaring primary schools gender-free be presented for approval in the upcoming provincial cabinet meeting. Authorities said the initiative is expected to improve access to education, particularly in remote and underdeveloped areas, and increase enrollment rates.

During a briefing, Chief Secretary Balochistan Shakeel Qadir Khan informed the meeting that construction of additional classrooms in 3,000 single-room schools would be completed by next year to improve learning conditions and accommodate growing student numbers.

It was further decided to introduce standardized reading and writing materials across all government schools in the province to ensure uniform quality of education. The meeting also approved a significant increase in fixed salaries for teachers working under the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), which had remained stagnant for years.

Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti expressed concern that despite global progress, many children in Balochistan still study while sitting on mats due to inadequate facilities. He termed the situation unacceptable and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing a dignified learning environment.

He directed that every student in government schools must be provided with a desk and emphasized that no child should sit on the ground. He added that promoting self-confidence, dignity, and respect among children is an essential part of quality education.

The Chief Minister further announced that he would conduct surprise visits to schools in remote areas and inspect facilities on the ground. He said he could even use a helicopter to reach schools in mountainous or hard-to-access regions to ensure implementation of government directives.

Warning of strict action, he stated that if students were found sitting on mats after the given deadline, responsible officials would face consequences. He reiterated that the provincial government is committed to utilizing all available resources to improve education, health, and law and order and to secure a better future for the province’s youth.

The meeting was attended by Provincial Ministers Mir Shoaib Nosherwani, Mir Zia Langove, and Mir Zahoor Buledi, Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, Advisor to the Chief Minister Shahid Rind, Additional Chief Secretary Development Zahid Saleem, Additional Chief Secretary Interior Hamza Shafqaat, Secretary Education Lal Jan Jaffar, Secretary Health Mujib-ur-Rehman Panizai, Secretary Finance Jahangir Khan Kakar, Principal Secretary Imran Zarkoon, Special Secretary Finance Arif Khan, Additional Secretary Chief Minister Secretariat Muhammad Firdoun Khan, and other senior officials.