Former Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani Speaks on Balochistan’s Education Crisis
Quetta, Pakistan – Amid the worsening conditions in Balochistan, former Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani has raised concerns about the misuse of scholarships meant for Baloch students. He stated that children from Punjab are benefiting from scholarships designated for students from Balochistan’s Gwadar.
Speaking to reporters, Raisani claimed that Baloch students are being forcibly taken from educational institutions, and the blame is wrongly placed on tribal leaders. He questioned, ‘Now tell me, who is really against education?’ He also mentioned that China offered 7,000 scholarships under the Gwadar projects, but only 200 of these went to Baloch students.
Raisani stressed that tribal leaders work to uphold the rights of the Baloch people. However, when students from other regions benefit from these scholarships, it denies the Baloch community access to education. He highlighted the poor infrastructure in many schools in Balochistan, including inadequate buildings, lack of basic facilities, and insufficient teaching materials. Rural and remote areas face the greatest challenges, with lower enrolment rates, particularly for girls, due to socio-cultural norms, security concerns, and economic constraints.
Overall, literacy rates and educational attainment levels are lower in Balochistan compared to other provinces, affecting opportunities for higher education and employment.
Doubts Revealed
Nawab Aslam Raisani -: Nawab Aslam Raisani is a politician who used to be the Chief Minister of Balochistan, a province in Pakistan.
Chief Minister -: A Chief Minister is like the head of a state government in India, similar to how a principal is the head of a school.
Balochistan -: Balochistan is a province in Pakistan, which is a country next to India.
Scholarships -: Scholarships are financial help given to students so they can study without worrying about money.
Punjab -: Punjab is another province in Pakistan, not to be confused with the Indian state of Punjab.
Gwadar projects -: Gwadar projects are development projects in Gwadar, a port city in Balochistan, often involving investments from China.
Infrastructure -: Infrastructure means the basic facilities like buildings, roads, and power supplies needed for a place to function.
Enrolment rates -: Enrolment rates refer to the number of students who sign up to attend school.
Socio-cultural norms -: Socio-cultural norms are the rules and behaviors that are considered normal in a society or culture.
Security concerns -: Security concerns mean worries about safety, like being afraid of danger or violence.
Economic constraints -: Economic constraints are financial problems that make it hard for people to afford things like education.