Quetta (Pakistan News) — Mir Sarfraz Bugti has announced the abolition of the traditional floor-mat (“Tat”) culture in all functional government schools across the province, declaring that every student will be provided with a desk. Instructions have been issued to the School Education Department to take immediate action in this regard.
The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, where major reforms in the education, health, and law-and-order sectors were approved. Participants agreed on a comprehensive reform program to improve these sectors under the upcoming fiscal year's budget.
To promote education and increase literacy rates, the government has decided to introduce double teaching shifts in 900 schools across the province. The meeting also approved a significant increase in the long-standing fixed salaries of teachers working under the National Educational Development program.
It was further decided that standardized teaching and written learning materials would be introduced in government schools. In addition, the government has set a target to complete the construction of additional classrooms in 3,001 single-room schools across the province by next year.
Speaking on the occasion, Mir Sarfraz Bugti said that while the world has entered a modern era, it is unfortunate that children in some areas of Balochistan are still forced to sit on floor mats while receiving an education.
He emphasized that no child would be made to sit on a floor mat anymore and that desks would be provided to all students in every school.
The Chief Minister also announced that he would personally conduct surprise visits to schools in remote and mountainous regions. He warned that if any child is found sitting on a floor mat after the implementation deadline, action will be taken against the responsible officials.
He added that fostering self-confidence and dignity among children is a critical need of the time, and the government is committed to taking practical steps to achieve this objective.