The total number of students enrolled at primary school level was 22,392 in 1996, comprising 16,947 boys and 5,545 girls. The number of students enrolled at middle school level was 3,427, comprising 2,907 boys and 520 girls. Students enrolled at high school level totalled 1,633, out of which 1,498 were boys and 185 were girls⁶⁷. At college level the students enrolled numbered 896, consisting of 766 at Intermediate level and 130 at Degree level. Out of total number of 766 students 680 were male and 86 female. At degree level out of 130 students 110 were male and only 20 were female.

Sources: BEMIS; DEO Loralai

There are 8 private schools operating in the district; 5 primary and 3 middle schools. There is no private high school in the district.

 The number of teachers engaged in these private schools was 54 in primary schools and 28 in middle schools. All the students enrolled are male, the total number of students was 1,351, out of which 559 in primary and 792 in middle level.

 There is one residential college in Loralai town, which became functional in 1989. Sixty students were selected from all over the province on merit basis. The first academic session was started in August 1989. The total strength of the students was 330 in 1995, which increased to 333 in 1996. The number of teachers in the college was 23, comprising a Principal, 3 Assistant Professors, 16 Lecturers, one Computer Programmer, a Librarian and a Sports Officer.

 In Government schools Urdu is the medium of instruction, however some attempts were made to change the medium of instruction from Urdu to local languages (Pashto, Brahvi, Balochi), but this attempt was not successful.

 The literacy figures quoted in the 1981 census were: overall 7.23%, in urban areas the ratio was 32.64%, while in rural areas it was 4.79%. The literacy rate for males was 11.04% as compared to females 2.2%. The Muslim population of 10 years and above who can read Holly Koran or learning to read it was 91.85%.

 The enrolment figures show great differences between boys and girls students. The trend of student enrolment shows an increase. The total number of students enrolled in the educational institutions was 23,065 in the district in 1991-92, which increased to 28,398 in 1996 showing an increase of 23%.

 For some more statistics on education see annex 14.

Formal schooling in Pakistan is organised in a three stage system namely Primary, Middle, Upper Secondary or High School, and runs for a total of 10 years. The Primary education cycle is composed of six grades running from Kachi (Kindergarten) to grade 5. 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 then eligible to enter middle school which runs for three years from grades 6 to 8. This is followed by 2 years of upper secondary or high school (grade 9-10), ending in matriculation (Matric). The District Education Officers, one male and one female are the in-charges of all the Government schools. There are Principals/ Headmasters/ Headmistresses and other teachers like SST^*, JET^*, JAT^*, DM^*, PTI^*, MQ^* and JVT^* in the district.

The total number of primary schools is 489, out of which 416 schools are for boys and 73 for girls. In the district there are 331 single teacher schools at primary level. Two-teacher schools number 121, 14 schools have three teachers, 9 have four teachers and only 14 have more than four teachers. The total number of primary schools increased from 431 in 1991-92, to 489 in 1996, showing a growth rate of 14%.

The number of primary boys schools increased from 384 in 1991-92 to 416 in 1996, showing an increase of 8%. The girls primary schools were numbered in 1991-92 which increased to 73 in 1996, showing an increase of 55%.

As mentioned earlier, in 1996 16,947 boys and 5,545 girls were enrolled in primary schools.

 The total number of middle schools was 37 in 1991-92 which, increased to 38 in 1996. There was no change in the number of boys in middle school during this period, but the number of girls middle schools grew by 1 in this period. At middle school level the dropout rate is quite large, especially for girls. In order to check the drop-out rate private examination at middle level was banned.

 In 1996, 2,907 boys and 520 girls were enrolled in middle school.

 The total number of high schools in the district was 10 in 1991-92, which is now 11. Again only the number of girls high school grew by 1. The dropout rate at high school level is also quite high, again for girls in particular. Enrolment in 1996 was 1,498 boys and 185 girls.

 There are two degree colleges, one for boys and the other for girls. The total number of boys in degree college was 732 in 1991-92, which is now 790, showing an increase of 8%. The number of students in girls degree college was 109 in 1993-94 which decreased to 106 in 1996.

 A primary, middle, high school is headed by Headmaster/Headmistress and he/she is assisted by other teachers, clerks and support staff.

 Primary school buildings are mostly made of mud and straw, poorly ventilated and dimly lit. Besides there are also schools without shelter. Overcrowding in these school is a common phenomenon. The majority of the schools have only two rooms to accommodate students of class K to 5. They also lack basic amenities like water, electricity, and toilets. Some of the schools which are constructed on political grounds out of MPAs discretionary funds are used for private purposes, not for education. Some of these schools are laying unused due to a variety of reasons, e.g. lack of staff, basic facilities like water supply & electricity while some others are not completely constructed.

Middle and high school buildings are comparatively in a better condition. In most of the schools water supply, toilet and playgrounds are available. Some middle schools are without a boundary wall.

The increase in enrolment of girls in primary education over the last year is very encouraging. Still a great number of problems persist in the education system in the district.

The average overall pupils/teachers ratio in Loralai District is 21:1. The Primary School pupils/teachers ratio for both sexes is 35:1. For Middle School the ratio is 8:1, while for High School the ratio comes at 7:1. The pupils/teachers ratio at primary level in Balochistan 34:1, while in the district it is 35:1, which is a bit higher. The pupils/teachers ratio at Middle level in Balochistan is 22:1, for both boys and girls, the ratio in the district is 8:1, which is better compared to the total province, although the reason is probably high drop-out rates. The ratio at high school level for both sexes in Balochistan is 7.2:1, the district figure of this ratio comes at 7:1.

The average completion rates in Balochistan is as under:

6 years to complete grade 5

9 years to complete grade 8

11 years to complete grade High School.

More or less the same figures are true for the district.

The dropout rate for boys in the district is 82% at Middle level, for girls it is 91%. At high school level the dropout rate for boys is 49%, for girls 64%. The figures show that there is a high dropout rate at Middle school level, specially for girl students. Drop-out rates are high due to a 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 and abandonment of school entirely. Lack of support from parents and the need for children’s labour at home are also contributing factors. The presence of a fully functional separate girls college is a promise to future social change with regard to women’s role.

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