In the Kech district of Balochistan, government schools are facing a crisis of epic proportions. Despite receiving millions of funds, the authorities are responsible for overseeing these schools have failed to ensure that resources are utilized effectively. Principals and teachers, entrusted with managing funds, are not held accountable for their expenditure.
There are nearly 720 governmental schools in the district, but the majority of students are out of school due to a lack of essential resources. The government provides resources like clothes, bags, notebooks, pencils, and basic essentials annually, as well as sports equipment to promote physical education. However, most schools fail to provide these resources to students, and instead, principals and teachers embezzle funds for personal gain.
Worse still, they are "eating" the funds, using them for their own benefit rather than investing them in the education and well-being of their students. The government's lack of oversight is alarming, as they never question the schools about the whereabouts of the funds. This lack of accountability has led to rampant mismanagement and embezzlement of funds.
Furthermore, there are some schools where teachers are absent from duty without any specific reason and those who attend often hire unqualified substitutes to teach learners. School infrastructure is in disarray, with washrooms lacking doors and basic facilities like clean water, functional toilets, and private washrooms absent.
The corrupt administrators are snatching away the rights of students to a quality education and a safe, healthy, and dignified learning environment. This is unacceptable and demands immediate attention from the authorities.
One wonders, what is the point of having governmental schools if they are not benefiting the public, especially the poor? The purpose of these schools is to provide free or low-cost education to all citizens, but if they are failing to do so, then it's a systemic failure.
It's time for the government to take responsibility and address these systemic failures. Authorities must be held accountable for mismanagement of funds and neglect of duties. The students of Balochistan's Kech district deserve better services. We demand accountability and action to ensure government schools provide the best possible education and facilities to all students.
Marwa Rahim
Turbat
Tags:
social issue