More than 1,300 government-run primary, middle and high schools were found to be non-functional in various parts of Balochistan including Quetta, a private media outlet reported on Tuesday.
The figures were disclosed during a meeting of all district education officers held in Quetta recently and chaired by the Balochistan Education Secretary Noorul-Haq-Baloch.
According to media reports, such state of affairs are existent for the last few years due to the poor governance in the province in the education sector.
It is further said that delays in the appointment of teachers by the government and absence of the teachers from the schools are the main reasons behind the situation.
In Quetta and Pishin districts alone, as many as 250 public primary, middle and high schools have been found shut.
However, on contrary to that, independent organisations and experts are of the view that the actual number of non-functional schools in the province higher than what was stated during the meeting.
When asked to comment on the reasons behind the closed schools, the secretary said the process of appointment of teachers in Balochistan was in the final phase.
“With the new appointments, we will be able to re-open the non-functional schools in the province,” Baloch added.
In Balochistan, the number of government-run primaries, middle and high schools is estimated at above 13,000. The government in the recent past had established a complaint management cell to help the masses inform authorities about closed schools and ‘ghost’ teachers.
16 years…”.
