QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has claimed that efforts are under way in Islamabad to take control of the curriculum being taught in Balochistan despite education having been made a provincial subject after devolution of powers under the 18th Amendment.

He was speaking at a Youth Conference held here on Monday by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).

The students asked questions about the education system in the province and some of them criticised it, saying the real history of Balochistan had not been made part of the curriculum.

“Islamabad again wants control over the curriculum of Balochistan,” the chief minister said and vowed to resist such moves at all levels.

“We will continue our struggle to keep the education sector along with the curriculum with the province,” he said.

Dr Baloch said efforts were being made to remove flaws and a new curriculum would be prepared in accordance with authentic political and cultural history of Balochistan.

He said education and health were top priorities of his government and maximum funds had been allocated for the promotion of education in Balochistan.

He said cheating in examinations was destroying the education system. “It is a major challenge for the government and it will get rid of cheating by using technology,” he said. However, he added, trained teachers were needed for introducing technology in teaching.

The students complained that teachers working as invigilators demanded money to allow cheating in examinations even at the master’s level.

Dr Baloch said the provincial government was paying attention to the issue of absence of teachers and doctors from duty and recently 65 teachers had been suspended and served show-cause notices. “They include headmasters and other education officers,” he said.

“We are working on a war footing to improve the education system and trace ghost schools and teachers.”

The chief minister said another challenge his government was facing was providing jobs to educated youths. “We have not enough resources to create maximum jobs” but most of the budget of Balochistan was being spent on the non-development sector, while only Rs45 billion could be allocated for development, he said.

He said his government would fulfil its responsibility to provide jobs to the educated youths.

He said all appointments in government departments would be made through the Balochistan Public Service Commission and National Testing Service’s tests.

Published in Dawn, November 18th , 2014