The total number of students enrolled at primary school level was 10,922 in 1996, out of which 8,800 were boys and 2,122 girls. At middle level the number of students enrolled was 1,494, comprising of 1,412 boys and 73 girls. At the high level the number of students was 820 consisting of 790 boys and 30 girls. As can be seen from the table, enrolment has increased over the last five years.

Source: Balochistan Education Management Information System (BEMIS), 1996

 At provincial level the total number of students at primary level was 556,963 out of which 380,844 were boys and 176,119 girls. The students enrolled in middle level were 91,316, comprising of 70,466 boys and 20,850 girls. At high school level the total number of students enrolled was 41,648 comprising 34,578 boys and 71,00 girls.⁶⁴

There are two private schools at primary level. These schools are for boys only, and the total number of students enrolled is 325. The total number of teachers in these private schools is 10. The language of instruction in government schools is Urdu. Attempts were made in 1989 to create text books in Balochi, Pashto, and Brahvi, and to teach in local languages, but the attempt was not successful. The literacy ratio in the district was 4.10% at the time of the 1981 census; the male literacy ratio was 6.9%, while for female it was only 0.8%.

In 1981, the Muslim population of 10 years and above was 40,095, out of which 97% could read or was learning to read Holy Quran, of which 55% were males and 45% females.

Formal schooling in Pakistan is organised in a three stage system of primary, middle and upper secondary or high school, and runs for a total period of 10 years. Primary education comprises six grades, from kachi (kindergarten) to 5th grade. The age of entry into the system is variable, ranging from age four to age eight. On successful completion of all six grades, pupils are awarded the primary certificate. They are eligible now to enter middle school which runs for three years from grade 6 to 8. This is followed by 2 years of upper secondary or high school (grades 9 to 10) ending in matriculation (matric). The district education officers, one male and one female, are in charge of all the government schools for boys and girls respectively. Every school has a headmaster or headmistress and teachers teaching different subjects.

In Barkhan district, the total number of primary schools is 324, out of which 281 schools are for boys and 43 are for girls. Some of these schools are constructed by MPAs out of their own earmarked allocation of government funds. For some schools local people have donated the school building.

Of all primary schools in the district, 250 schools have one teacher, 57 schools have two teachers, 13 schools have three teachers, 2 schools have four teachers and 2 schools have more than four teachers. In 1991-92, the total number of primary school for boys was 260. In 1996 the number was 281, which shows an increase of 8%. Over the same period the number of girls’ primary schools went from 12 to 43, showing an increase of 258%.

The total number of middle schools in the district is 15, out of which 13 are for boys and 2 for girls. In 1991-92, the number of middle schools was 14. The new school is a girls’ middle school. At middle level drop-out rates are quite high, especially for girls. To check the drop-out rate, private examination at middle level has been banned.

 The total number of high schools in the district was 6 during 1991-92, which increased to 7 in 1996. The new school is a boys’ school. Also in high school drop-out rates are quite high, again particularly for girls.

In the district there is only one intermediate college. The total number of students was 99 in 1992-93, which increased to 256 in 1996, showing an increase of 159%. There is no separate girls’ college in the district, but the classes for girls are held in the evening in the girls’ high school. They are taught by the male lecturers of the boys’ college at Barkhan. These girls’ classes were started in 1993-94 with 13 students, which now has dropped to 11 students.

Except the schools in urban areas, most of the primary school buildings in the district are in poor condition. There are 47 shelterless primary schools, with classes held under a tree or out in the open air. The primary school buildings are poorly ventilated and dimly lit and made of mud and straw only. Overcrowding in these buildings is the norm. The majority of the schools have only 2 rooms to accommodate 6 grades and are characterised by a dearth of even the most basic equipment, such as blackboards, chalk, and mats for the children. Most are lacking as well as in basic facilities like clean water supply and proper sanitation.

The middle and high school buildings are to some extent in a better condition. They are provided with facilities like water supply, toilet, play grounds etc. Some of the middle schools are without a compound wall.

The average pupil/teacher ratio in Barkhan district is 18:1. The ratio for boys’ primary schools is 25:1 and for girls’ primary schools the ratio is 27:1. For boys’ middle schools it is 9:1 and for girls it is 7:1. Similarly for boys’ high schools the ratio is 6:1 and for girls 8:1. The pupil/teacher ratio at primary level in Balochistan is 24.1:1 for boys and 43.1:1 for girls. So when compared to the whole province, in Barkhan the ratio is a bit higher for boys and considerably lower for girls.

The pupil/teacher ratio for both sexes at middle school level in Balochistan is 22:1. The ratio in the district is 9:1, which seems better compared to the whole province, but probably the reason is high drop-out rates. The pupil/teacher ratio at high school level for both sexes in Balochistan is 7.2:1, while the ratio in the district is 6:1. Again the ratio looks better for the district, but the low ratio may again be attributed to high drop-out rates and also to non-availability of schools for admission seeking students at high school level.

The average completion rates in Balochistan are six years to complete grade 5, another three years to complete grade 8 and yet another two years to complete high school. More or less the same figures are true for the district.

At middle school level the drop-out rate for boys in the district is 83% and for girls it is 97%. At high school level the drop-out rate for boys is 44% and for girls 59%. To check the drop-out rate private examination at middle level was banned by the Government. Drop-out rates are high due to variety of reasons. It includes poor learning conditions and inappropriate teaching methods, irrelevant curriculum, corporal punishment and failure to pass from one grade to the next, leading to discouragement. Entirely lack of support from parents and the need for children’s labour at home are also contributing factors.

Besides, for girls as they grow up it is considered wrong to let them out of the house, to school or to any other place. Awareness raising about the importance of female education needs to take place.

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