QUETTA: The Balochistan assembly on Friday was made aware of the fact that despite an educational emergency imposed in the province, 1,509 government-run primary schools are still shelter-less.
The house discussed the plight of government-run schools and gave various proposals in order to bring improvement within the education sector.
“Chief Minister Dr Malik Baloch's native district- Kech stays at the top with 118 shelter-less schools in the province, which is legging behind other provinces in terms of key social indicators,” revealed the Adviser to Chief Minister on Education, Sardar Raza Muhammad Bareech.
Read: 5,000 teachers appointed on merit in Balochistan
“The numbers of shelter-less schools in the districts of the province are as follows: Kuzdar has 90 such schools, Lasbella has 82, Pishin has 81, Gwadar has 29, Dera Bugti has 40 while the provincial capital has 70 such schools,” stated Bareech in the assembly.
The adviser added that the provincial government had allocated Rs 400 million to provide missing facilities to schools in Balochistan.
However, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) member Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran lashed out at treasury benches at what he called the miserable condition of education sector in the province.
"During May 11 general elections, multiple schools were blown up in my constituency by the militants," said Khetran.
"Those schools are yet to be reconstructed," Khetran claimed.
While commenting on the plight of the education sector, the chief minister asked the house to specify two days to debate on the subject.
"We all have to discuss education and give proposals,” stated the chief minister.
Parliamentary leader of the Awami National Party (ANP), Zamarak Achakzai also criticised the treasury benches for what he called "declining condition of the education sector in the province."
Also read: 234,000 ghost students 'enrolled' in Balochistan
"Rs 400 million were wasted as schools are without walls,” said Achakzai.
Senior minister Balochistan, Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, proposed formation of a special committee to discuss the plight of education sector and pinpoint the shortcomings.
However, Dr Hamid Achakzai, the Minister for Planning and Development, suggested that standing committee on education had the mandate to discuss the education sector.
Subsequently, the Speaker Balochistan Assembly Qudoos Bizenjo passed a ruling and said that the house would dedicate a day to debate the plight of education.
