Quetta, June 16: A prominent student organization has strongly condemned the forced retirements of teachers and other government employees in Pakistan, labeling the actions as “undemocratic and unfortunate.”
The Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC) expressed concern, alleging that the forced retirement process is being used to intimidate those educators and staff who speak out for their rights.
According to the student organization, these measures are part of a “conspiracy” aimed at keeping Balochistan educationally backward and further reducing the literacy rate in the region. The organization noted that many schools have already closed due to a significant shortage of teachers, often referred to as “ghost schools”—institutions that exist without active teaching or learning.
BSAC stated, “The educational situation in Balochistan has long been dire. Every government claims to reform education, yet no concrete steps are taken in reality. In many areas, there are neither teachers nor quality education, and several places lack schools altogether.”
The organization described this as a painful reflection of the province’s “educational backwardness,” emphasizing the need for serious consideration of the issue.
Furthermore, BSAC highlighted that in the past year, government employees, including many professors and teachers, have faced significant challenges while protesting for their constitutional rights.
The organization accused the government of continuously claiming to improve the education sector while ignoring the legitimate demands of these teachers.
Criticizing the forced retirements, BSAC asserted, “Teachers are an essential part of any society’s progress. They lay the foundation for an educational revolution. Such disrespect is unacceptable. Our relationship with teachers is intellectual and spiritual; their hard work and integrity elevate students to heights of success.”
The student organization appealed to the Pakistani government to reconsider its “anti-education policy” in Balochistan and to immediately halt the forced retirement process of teachers and other government employees.
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