The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) has approved a $9 million grant to enhance early childhood and primary education in Balochistan, focusing on improving learning environments and strengthening key skills like reading and numeracy for children in GPE-supported schools.
The grant will be coordinated through the World Bank and UNICEF, with two primary components. The World Bank-managed portion will concentrate on elevating teacher quality through a continuous professional development (CPD) program in seven districts. It will also oversee the rollout of a revised Early Childhood Education (ECE) curriculum and updated teaching materials. Meanwhile, UNICEF will expand the Balochistan Student Learning Improvement Programme (BSLP) to 20 districts, building on the successes of a previous funding cycle.
The targeted districts include Quetta, Qila Abdullah, Pishin, Chaghi, and Chaman, known for their high refugee populations, as well as Qila Saifullah and Noshki, which share borders with Afghanistan. The World Bank and UNICEF will closely coordinate their efforts, align CPD activities, distribute learning materials, and develop performance metrics for teachers and administrators.
Despite recent improvements, Balochistan’s education system faces significant hurdles. The gross primary enrollment rate stands at 54%, far below the national average of 78%. Approximately 65% of children aged 5-16 remain out of school, including 45% at the primary level. Early childhood education access is limited, with only 14% of the province’s 1.36 million children aged 3-5 enrolled in public ECE classrooms, and just 9% of schools employing dedicated ECE teachers. This shortage is compounded by multigrade classrooms, where children aged 3-8 are taught together, complicating age-specific learning.
Infrastructure challenges further exacerbate the situation, with sparsely located schools often far from accessible roads. Budget allocations, governed by a rigid system introduced in 2014, split funding between fixed and enrollment-based factors, leaving little flexibility to address specific school needs.
However, progress is being made. The recruitment of 11,000 teachers in 2025, the first major hiring effort since 2019, represents a significant step forward. This grant is poised to drive further improvements, offering hope for a brighter educational future in Balochistan. By addressing critical gaps in teacher training, curriculum development, and program expansion, the initiative aims to better prepare children for primary education and foster the development of human capital in the province.
