Balochistan has enrolled more than 717,000 out-of-school children in public schools across the province over the last two years, marking a significant milestone in addressing the education crisis. This achievement aligns with the Prime Minister’s declaration of a nationwide “Education Emergency,” which aims to enroll 26.2 million out-of-school children across Pakistan. Balochistan has become the first province to take decisive action under this initiative.
Launch of the Zero Out-of-School Children Campaign
According to Munir Ahmed Nodazai, CEO of BAEC and Focal Person for the Enrollment Campaign Balochistan, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti launched the “Zero Out-of-School Children” campaign on September 12, 2024. The campaign set an ambitious target to bring every child into the education system. Under Bugti’s leadership, along with the dedicated efforts of Provincial Minister for Education Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani and the Secretary of School Education, the province achieved remarkable progress within just 20 months.
Significant Reduction in Out-of-School Rate
According to the latest Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement (PSLM) data, the out-of-school children rate in Balochistan has dropped from 59% to 45%, a reduction of 14 percentage points. This decline represents a substantial improvement in educational access for children who were previously deprived of schooling.
Commitment to Education Transformation
Munir Ahmed Nodazai stated, “This achievement underscores Balochistan’s commitment to transforming its education landscape, ensuring that children previously deprived of schooling are now part of the formal education system.” He added that the campaign reflects the provincial government’s resolve to align with the national vision of universal education and to secure a brighter future for the youth. The enrollment drive continues to target the remaining out-of-school children, with the goal of achieving zero out-of-school children in the province.
