QUETTA, Dec 17: Balochistan Education Minister Abdul Wahid Siddique has said that the provincial government has issued a notification for regularisation of the services of 3,700 contract teachers.

The minister said at a press conference here on Saturday that from the next academic year all school students in the province would get textbooks free of cost.

He said 16 colleges had been established and nine upgraded to the degree level during the past four years in the province. He said the government was making concerted efforts to improve the standard of education.

Mr Siddique said the government had approved establishment of polytechnic institutes in Uthal, Gwadar, Turbat, Khuzdar, Muslimabad and Khanozai and four girls’ hostels would also be constructed with the institutes.

He said cadet colleges would be opened in Jaffarabad, Qila Saifullah, Panjgur, Kohlu, Gwadar, Dhadar and Nushki.

He said postgraduate classes would be launched in all the degree colleges of the province.

The minister said 213 seminaries had submitted applications to introduce formal education under the Madaris Reforms Project and the home department had granted no-objection certificates to 169 of them.

Mr Siddique said there were 1,200 registered seminaries in Balochistan and their students would get an opportunity to receive modern education.

He said the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education had lifted the condition of clearance of middle examinations for candidates of matriculation.