QUETTA: The Balochistan government has taken a landmark decision to abolish the uniform requirement in public primary schools and declare them “gender-free” institutions, allowing boys and girls to study together.
The move aims to ease financial burden on poor families, address shortage of female teachers in remote areas and expand access to education.
The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, where reforms in education, health and law and order were reviewed in the light of upcoming provincial budget. The chief minister also directed immediate elimination of outdated “tat culture” in schools, ordering the School Education Department to ensure provision of desks in all classrooms.
Officials explained that the gender-free policy will be presented to the provincial cabinet for approval, with expectations that it will significantly improve enrollment rates, particularly in underdeveloped and remote regions. The meeting also approved the introduction of a double-shift teaching system in 900 schools, enabling thousands of additional students to benefit from existing infrastructure.
Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan told participants that construction of additional classrooms in 3,000 single-room schools will be completed by next year to meet the growing demand.
The meeting further resolved to introduce standardised reading and writing material across all government schools to ensure quality education. It was also agreed to increase the long-stagnant fixed salaries of NCHD teachers.
Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti lamented that many children in Balochistan were still forced to study on mats. “This situation is unacceptable. Every child deserves a dignified learning environment,” he said, warning that strict action will be taken against officials if students are found sitting on the floor after the deadline. He pledged surprise visits, even to remote mountain schools by helicopter, to ensure compliance.
