Pakistan’s largest but least developed province, Balochistan, has been knotted in a prolonged conflict that deeply impacts its education system. This unrest stems from a combination of historical grievances, political marginalization, and socio-economic disparities leading many Baloch nationalist groups to demand not just greater autonomy but even independence for the province citing the constant exploitation of Balochistan’s resources but lack of investment in local development. These tensions have therefore fueled insurgencies, with militant groups often targeting state institutions, including schools, as symbols of government control. As a response, the state then also carries out military operations to suppress these insurgents, thereby creating a cycle of violence that has entangled educational institutions. These attacks on schools—some repurposed as military outposts or destroyed by militants—have left students without safe spaces to learn and deprived them of their right to education.
The conflict has directly led to the closure and destruction of schools across the province. According to reports, over 3,694 schools are currently nonfunctional, with 542 more closures from May 2024, leaving more than 16,000 teaching positions vacant. Districts like Pishin have been heavily affected by violence and have observed 254 school closures alone (“Balochistan’s Education Crisis”).
Insecurity as a result of conflict has also significantly reduced school enrollment rates in Balochistan, which already had the lowest rates in Pakistan. According to UNICEF, 75% of children were out of school in 2023, reflecting the deep-rooted challenges in accessing education. Only 27% of women in the province attend school, while the literacy rate for men stands at just 33% (Bolan Voice). For those who do manage to enroll, the fear of violence, coupled with frequent school closures, leads to high dropout rates. This issue is particularly severe at the secondary level and disproportionately affects women, who face additional cultural and logistical barriers to continuing their education.
Teachers have also become frequent targets in this conflict, facing threats, abductions, and violence as militant groups often accuse them of promoting state ideologies through curricula, thus leading to fear and absenteeism. This has consequently created an environment with a severe shortage of teachers as trained teachers often refuse to work in such areas, leaving children with limited or no access to schooling. This has further eroded the quality and quantity of education providers in Balochistan.
Additionally, the conflict has also created a resource-starved environment, where shortages of not only trained educators but also of textbooks and other teaching resources exist. All of these factors combined severely compromise the quality of education and the few schools that remain operational lack even basic facilities, such as boundary walls, drinking water, and functional classrooms.
Conclusively, addressing the conflict is crucial for restoring education in Balochistan. It is essential that military operations are ceased in civilian areas, school security is ensured, and corruption is combatted as this will improve infrastructure and also encourage attendance among teachers and students. The government should also engage in political dialogue with militant groups to address their grievances and reduce attacks on schools. NGOs should also be involved to help in restoring education and special initiatives for girls' education and rehabilitation programs for conflict-affected students must be introduced. Moreover, raising collective awareness about the condition of education and the injustices in Balochistan, such as forced disappearances, can empower the public to speak against oppression. A united stance against such injustices can pressure authorities to ensure accountability, and foster an environment where education thrives. This would ultimately break the cycle of violence and secure access to quality education for all.
Works Cited
“Balochistan’s Education Crisis: A Testament to Worst Governance.” Quetta Voice, 9 Sept. 2024, https://quettavoice.com/2024/09/09/balochistans-education-crisis-a-testament-to-worst-governance/.
“Women's Education in Balochistan.” Bolan Voice, 9 Sept. 2023, https://bolanvoice.wordpress.com/2023/09/09/womens-education-in-balochistan/.
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