Balochistan Approves Major Education Reforms to Improve Literacy and School Facilities

Quetta:** A high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti has approved key reform measures aimed at improving education, increasing literacy rates, and upgrading educational facilities across the province.

The meeting decided to remove the requirement for school uniforms at the primary level and to allow boys and girls to receive basic education in the same schools. A proposed policy declaring primary schools as “gender-free” will be presented in the upcoming provincial cabinet meeting.

To boost literacy, it was agreed to introduce a double-shift teaching system in 900 schools across the province. The meeting also approved significant increases in long-frozen salaries of NCHD teachers.

According to a briefing by the Secretary of School Education, additional classrooms will be constructed in 3,000 single-room schools by next year, while standardized reading and writing materials will be introduced in government schools.

The Chief Minister also announced the elimination of the “taat culture” from all functional public schools, directing that desks be provided so that no child has to sit on the floor. He stressed that each school must be equipped with proper seating arrangements, and strict action would be taken against officials if students are still found sitting on mats after the deadline.

He further stated that he would personally conduct surprise inspections of remote schools, including visits via helicopter when necessary, to review educational conditions on the ground.

The meeting also agreed on a broader reform agenda for the upcoming fiscal year focusing on education, health, and law and order improvements, with the Chief Minister emphasizing the importance of building children’s confidence and dignity through better learning environments.