While a handful of angry tribal chieftains coupled with armed militants are still targeting government installations and mega developmental projects in Balochistan, the presence of strong and solid institutions like Pakistan Army has always helped in the uplift and development of the province. For instance, the decision of setting-up of an Army Corps Headquarters in Quetta has paid dividends and invariably brought better socio-economic changes in the shape of employment opportunities, development of the area and of course better civic amenities. It is beyond doubt that by establishing cantonment at Punu Aqil had a ‘civilizing’ effect in the much neglected areas.
Balochistan is Pakistan’s least developed and educated province with a literacy rate of 36 per cent against the national literacy rate of 53 per cent. Balochistan has a male literacy rate of 52% whereas the female is of 19%. According to National Education Census – 2005, out of a total of 245,682 educational centres, there are only 11,706 (4.7%) institutions in Balochistan. Some districts in Balochistan have among the lowest enrolment and literacy rates in the world, with one district recording only two per cent enrolment at the primary school level. The governments resolve to develop Balochistan as hub of business activity can only be fulfilled provided the potential of locals Balochs are fully developed in respect to skill management. The tribesmen want schools, professional colleges, universities, roads, water projects and industrialization. But sardars misinform the innocent public and push them farther away from education.
The central government has shown its resolve to provide generous help to masses of Balochistan so as to overcome the legacy of neglect and underdevelopment from the past. Nonetheless, the current government’s wide-ranging structural reforms will bring progress in developing ‘human capabilities’. In 2008, the government has launched “National Vocational & Technical Education Commission” (NAVTEC) to produce technical manpower by utilizing already existing facilities of the technical institutes of Federal, Provincial, Armed Forces, other Government and semi-government departments. Accordingly, President Zardari announced the establishment of Balochistan Institute of Technical Education (BITE) under Army Southern Command stationed at Quetta by utilizing Army Engineers Center resources. This will be aimed to implement a community-driven development initiative across the country, focusing on the weaker and more deprived communities. The community is a full partner in this effort. Both the policy makers and participants (general masses) complement the skill development process.
Skill Development, Productivity, and Growth, are inter-related. When we talk of strengthening the education and skills of our people, we mean to strengthen our economic advantage. Despite the growth, the sustainability and the trickle down of the growth benefits to the poor remain major challenges. The political infighting followed by unprecedented spike in oil prices, shortage in power & energy and ongoing US-led GWOT in FATA & Balochistan bordering Afghanistan, brought economic meltdown along with severe hardships for the common people. The government of Pakistan recognized that education is the basic right of every citizen; therefore, access to education for every citizen is crucial for economic development and for poverty alleviation. Islamabad allocated US $22 million for the education of Balochistan in the budget 2006-2007, creating 30,000 vacancies for the people of Balochistan in federal and provincial government departments. It is hoped that this may change the fate of Balochi people and they get the fruits of regional resources. Pakistan Navy has established three Bahria High School at Ormara and one at Gawadar in 2006-07. The school has a strength of 73 ethnic Balochis students that is likely to increase manifold due to the enormous response from the locals in educating their children for better prospects. The World Bank (WB) is helping the Balochistan government to set up 200 community schools and 100 private schools. The construction of cadet colleges in Qilla Saifullah, Jaffarabad and Panjgur districts, and the PC-I (project concept) for similar cadet colleges in Noshki, Gwadar, Kohlu and Sibbi will go a long way in allaying Baloch grievances. Information Technology (IT) classes in 298 high schools of Balochistan are being initiated to ensure that all students are computer literate. The Bolan Medical College had been completed in 2005, and one poly technical college each in Gwadar, Panjgur, Turbat and Ghuzdar were being set up to cope with the technical needs of the Gwadar port.
The present government has envisioned with a clear commitment to reform a number of aspects of education system framed within the 1998-2010 National Education Policy and ten year perspective development plan 2001-2011. It is planned to affect a major increase in annual intake for skills and technical education to 4,00,000 persons by 2010. Out of this, 3,30,000 million are planned as annual intake in public institutions, while the remainder are expected to be part of private sector involvement. The introduction of the skills and technology stream in 2000 high schools (equally divided among boys and girls) will allow 2,40,000 children of age group 14-15 to enter the programme each year, aiming a reasonable degree of proficiency in 2009 – 2010, requiring a further 6 months for proper accreditation after high school. New polytechnics, technical and vocational institutes will be established, with the ultimate target of at least two in every district (of which one will be for women) by the end of the MTDF period. Every effort will be made to enhance the ability of provincial and district government to not only multiply enrolment, but also hire many more teachers and develop their capacity for delivering. Technical courses are offered in motorcycle, auto electrician, car mechanic, driving, dress designing, beautician, etc. The proposed duration of the project will be 12 months with the possible enrolment of 1120 trainees per year. Moreover, a cross comparison of TVET sector objectives set under five year plan, MTDF and vision 2030. Preparation of national plans and projects in coordination with stakeholders is vital for the expansion of technical education and vocational training infrastructure in Balochistan.
Pakistan still has a long way to go in order to ensure a reasonable human development level for its people. The UNDP Human Development Report (HDR) for 2010 shows Pakistan’s profile on the Human Development Index (HDI) ranked at 141 out of 182 countries. Nonetheless, the good news is that Pakistan is definitely in the direction it would like to continue to move towards. “Human capital” plays an important role in economic growth, so the Government is re-orienting the education system to enhance skills development and productivity to meet the challenge of competitiveness posed by technological advancement. The Government has embarked upon an efficient Skills Development Reform Project (SDRP) with the objective to improve the quality and relevance of skills development programs to support labor-intensive industries. Pakistan is learning from the experiences of countries like China, Korea, and Japan, especially from China which is the fastest growing economy in the world. The basic pillar of the China’s strategy is massive human resource development. Pakistan is a country of hundred and seventy million people whose potential are second to none in the world and if axiomotized “everything is possible with sheer hard work and commitment”. The children are our real wealth and Pakistan is blessed with a enormous pool of human potential as Pakistan has over 100 million of population that is below the age of 25. All they need is skills and opportunities to harness their full potential.
