THIS is apropos of the letter ‘Balochistan situation’ (Feb 16). The province, already lagging behind in terms of development, needs innovative initiatives to cope with educational challenges of quantity, quality and fair distribution on the basis of gender and the rural-urban divide.

Such initiatives had been launched a couple of decades ago with the help of foreign funding agencies and had some positive outcomes for students and teachers. All of them have now, unfortunately, come to a halt. In the backdrop of the war on terror, not only Balochistan but the entire education sector of Pakistan has received severe setbacks due to great reduction in its budgetary allocation for the current fiscal year.

In Balochistan, however, the current phase of unrest and insurgency took on an ugly bend when the teachers and professors came under direct attack of the insurgents, thus inflicting a severe blow on education.

Teachers hailing from other provinces found it difficult to fulfil their duties due to an ever looming threat on them. According to one estimate, more than 70 faculty members of the University of Balochistan have submitted applications for transfer.

This is a huge number given that there are only 200 faculty members in all. What effect an en masse departure of qualified faculty would have is no secret.

Apart from this, a great many schools and colleges have closed and those that are open have stopped operating according to desired standards. This disturbing situation directly impacts the younger generation of Balochistan.

In this game of power politics, education has emerged as the worst possible victim as it doesn’t seem to be enjoying patronage either from the provincial or the federal government.

A few measures taken by security forces by converting the two proposed garrisons at Kohlu and Sui into educational institutions may be undersized in the backdrop of the bigger picture need to be emulated by the provincial government.

Thousands of students enrolled in the education city at Sui and military college at Kohlu have embarked upon the journey towards actualisation of their dreams and certainly exhibit the fact that thoughts become action when conscious effort is put into an undertaking.

Local teachers and students have tremendous potential. What they need is exposure to quality education and professional experience. It is through education that Balochistan can realise the dream of sustainable socioeconomic development that promises enhanced political awareness and a creative means for exploring the freedom of expression and ideas.

But education that ensures such dreams can take place only on campuses with peaceful classroom interactions, where disagreement can be shown in an agreeable manner, and where teachers are respected and considered important.

HASSAN BALOCH Quetta