EU, UNICEF and Balochistan Government Complete Education Program Benefiting 760,000 Children
Quetta: A ceremony was held in Quetta marking the successful completion of the five-year Balochistan Education Support Program (BES-II), jointly implemented by the European Union, the Government of Balochistan, and UNICEF.
Provincial Education Minister Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani was the chief guest at the event, which was attended by senior officials including Secretary Schools Education Lal Jan Jaffar, representatives of the European Union, UNICEF, and other development partners.
Speaking on the occasion, officials said that under the EU-funded initiative worth €17.4 million (2021–2026), more than 760,000 children across Balochistan benefited from improved access to quality education and a better learning environment. They added that around 335,000 girls were among the beneficiaries, helping promote girls’ education and gender equality in the province.
Minister Raheela Durrani said education is the foundation of sustainable development, social stability, and prosperity in Balochistan. She appreciated the continued support of the European Union and UNICEF, stating that the program not only improved access to education but also helped introduce long-term reforms in the education system.
She further said that under the vision of Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti, a decade-long partnership with EU and UNICEF has played a key role in strengthening the province’s education sector and transforming the lives of thousands of children.
Officials highlighted key reforms introduced under the program, including the province’s first digital school census, real-time school monitoring system, and a virtual academy, through which more than 10,600 teachers were trained and over 4,000 received professional development opportunities. Additionally, 3,000 parent-teacher school management committees were activated, engaging over 16,000 community members.
The program also helped bring over 20,000 out-of-school primary children and 2,200 middle-level students back into education through accelerated learning programs, with a majority being girls. Improvements in 1,230 schools benefited more than 150,000 students, while over 6,100 youth received skills training for future employment.
During emergencies, the program supported over 6,600 flood-affected children and provided health, hygiene, and screening services to more than 72,000 adolescent girls and 26,000 children.
EU Deputy Head of Cooperation Dr. Sebastian Loryon said investing in education and skills means investing in the future of Balochistan. UNICEF Representative Pernille Ironside also praised the collaboration, saying it gave millions of children a second chance at education.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment by all stakeholders to continue joint efforts to ensure equitable, quality, and sustainable education opportunities for every child in Balochistan.
