Higher education in Balochistan

Education is a vital sector for progress and prosperity of any nation. Strong educational infrastructure, being the backbone for development, helps in boosting economy, scientific and technological advancement and promotion of social sector.
The overall status of education in Balochistan is being considered not up to mark due to many reasons, and the same situation persists in higher education sector. Balochistan experienced a very harsh attitude towards education sector for many decades in various terms. The educational backwardness was due to the traditional neglecting attitudes of the governments, politicians, and the other high ups concerned. But for the past four years, a drastic change is being witnessed as both the federal and provincial governments have included education in their top priorities.
Federal and Balochistan governments have taken some necessary steps for the improvement of higher education as funds have been increased and some specific areas are focused to end the traditional way of education. Education Sector Reforms (ESR) program focused on six wanting areas i.e. elementary, primary, middle, secondary and higher secondary school and the higher education particularly science and information technology.
Balochistan has three universities in public sector i.e. University of Balochistan, Quetta; University of Engineering and Technology, Khuzdar and Balochistan University of Information Technology and Management Sciences, Quetta vis-à-vis Quetta based campuses of private universities.
The Federal Government increased the grant for public sector universities in Balochistan from 55 million to 200 million rupees, keeping in view the importance of spending in higher education sector in Balochistan. The University of Balochistan, Quetta improved its status by taking a number of revolutionary steps in old traditions of non-governance, lack of discipline, non-punctuality of teachers and students, cheating trends etc. The Government of Balochistan fully supported these reforms, and the Federal Government extended all possible financial and moral support to the university management. In the year 1999, a perspective plan for strengthening the University of Balochistan was prepared, at a total cost of 664 million rupees. Government of Pakistan approved this amount to be spent in 11 years from 1999 to 2009.
The reforms at University of Balochistan brought a good change like increase in enrolment, regularity and punctuality, conducive environment for learning and teaching, 75 % attendance requirement, teachers lecture plans, transparent examinations, introduction of centralized marking and codification, seminars and workshops and meetings of the statutory bodies on regular basis. M. Phil and Ph.D. degrees were awarded to 38 scholars and more enrolments are got for that matter. Separate buildings are constructed for the Institute of Management Sciences, Education and Computer departments.
In this fast changing world, the requirements of Universities also change rapidly; the faculty and administration of BU has taken care to improve the atmosphere. For that matter admissions are being granted on merit only; Political interference was stopped in accordance with the directives of the Supreme Court in the best interest of education and academic year was streamlined. These steps resulted increase in enrolment that gone up to 4700 including 1300 girl students, a majority of girls from the interior of Balochistan. The University of Balochistan is also planning to introduce a four-year B.S. program in Geology, Marine Biology, and renewable Energy and to establish an Institute of Bio-Technology.
The Governor Balochistan, Chancellor of the three universities, constituted Council of Faculty Members (CFM) aimed at coordinating with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) for tapping the myriad programs launched by the HEC for promotion of Specialized and Technical Education in the country. The Governor Balochistan also appreciated the plan to link the libraries of all the three universities through computerized network, which would benefit the teachers and students of these universities to get the required material for research purposes.
Besides academic activities at the University of Balochistan, a number of seminars, workshops and competitions were held. Year 2002 was celebrated as Allama Iqbal Year, and the year 2003 was celebrated as Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah year. Different departments for that matter organized many events. Other major programs held in the University include the BU Convocation in April last graced by the ex-Governor Abdul Qadir and the Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousaf.
The steps taken for the promotion of higher education reflect the sincerity of the Federal and Balochistan governments towards promotion of higher education in Balochistan province. Keeping in view the geo-political and economic importance of Balochistan, the education sector could play a key role for the promotion of other sectors and could bring the province at par with other provinces of the country if same strength of attention is paid in future by the federal and provincial governments.

—Naseebullah