Several schools in Dera Bugti are closed or only partly functional, with teacher shortages and a lack of basic resources hampering education…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Several schools in Pakistan’s Balochistan province are either closed or only partially functioning amid shortages of teachers and basic resources, prompting concerns over the deteriorating state of education in Dera Bugti district.
The Baloch Literacy Campaign (BLC), an initiative of the Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC), raised concerns on Tuesday over the condition of schools in the district, saying prolonged closures and a lack of essential facilities were contributing to a decline in literacy.
According to the BLC, information collected from various schools showed that educational institutions in Dera Bugti were facing severe challenges, including complete dysfunction, inadequate teaching staff and a shortage of basic resources needed to operate.
“The situations described above reflect the severe challenges faced by the local community in the education sector. The total closure of schools, shortage of teaching staff, and lack of educational resources are not merely administrative failures; they are barriers that directly affect the future of children and the education of the district,” the BLC said.
The organisation said education was a fundamental right and that children should have access to learning regardless of their location, nationality or gender.
“The continued closure of schools in Dera Bugti is a grave concern and requires immediate administrative action,” it added.
The Baloch Students Action Committee called on Pakistani authorities to take immediate measures to reopen the affected schools, appoint the required teachers and provide basic facilities to create a suitable learning environment.
“The educational rights of the students in Dera Bugti must not be neglected, and the closure of these schools must be addressed with urgency,” it said.
The latest concerns follow a similar issue raised by the BLC last month involving students in the Peer Shari Darbar area of Dera Bugti. The organisation said children in the area had no access to education because there were no operational schools nearby.
According to the BLC, members of the local community had called for the restoration of a school in the area so that children could return to education.
The organisation said the problems were not limited to Dera Bugti and highlighted similar conditions in other parts of Balochistan.
“We also like to remind the concerned authorities that many regions across Balochistan face similar situations, with non-functional or partially functional infrastructure reduced to ruined buildings rather than functional schools. All such schools need to be rebuilt and renovated as soon as possible,” the BLC said.
The group urged authorities to address the wider problems affecting schools across the province, including infrastructure, staffing and access to basic educational resources.
The BLC said urgent action was needed to ensure schools functioned properly and children in affected communities were able to continue their education.
