QUETTA: A non-governmental organisation has identified 60 schools that are lying closed in Awaran district but budgetary allocations have been made for them by the Secondary Education Department.

“The first part of the budget, consisting of two instalments, has been transferred to the education department in Awaran district,” says organiser of the Balochistan Education System, the NGO.

“So far, we have identified 60 schools which have been lying closed for long and yet an amount of Rs6.299 million has been allocated in the current budget for them.”

Details shared by the NGO suggest these educational institutions lack basic facilities such as laboratory equipment, books and science teachers.

“Even the condition of these schools is pathetic, despite the fact that the Secondary Education Department had released an amount of over Rs30m for ensuring availability of reading and writing material, mats, uniforms, scientific equipment and furniture,” said Shahbir Rakh­shani of the NGO which put the total number of closed schools in Awaran at 90.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2019