Quetta: In a landmark step to safeguard children’s education, the Government of Balochistan has introduced the province’s first Early Warning System (EWS) aimed at reducing the alarmingly high primary-level school dropout rate.
Despite being the largest and one of the most resource-rich provinces of Pakistan, Balochistan faces a severe education crisis: 59 percent of children at the primary level drop out of school—61% boys and 59% girls. Economic hardship, child labour, long distances to schools, and lack of basic learning facilities have been identified as the major factors contributing to the problem.
The new Early Warning System has been rolled out in public schools to detect, at an early stage, children who are at risk of dropping out. The initiative aims to intervene in time, provide targeted support, and ensure that students continue their education instead of leaving school due to preventable challenges.
According to the School Education Department Balochistan, the system has been developed based on an extensive study conducted between 2016 and 2021 in collaboration with UNICEF and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). This research analysed key drivers of dropout trends and shaped the framework of the EWS. The project aligns with the vision of Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti and Provincial Minister for Education Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani to strengthen education and secure children’s futures.
Under the Early Warning System, each student’s attendance, behaviour, and academic performance will be tracked digitally. The software will automatically flag children who show declining performance, reduced interest in learning, or irregular attendance. Once identified as ‘high-risk,’ the child will be provided special support through coordinated action by teachers, school management, and parents.
The system uses OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) sheets and digital scanning to ensure a structured, scientific, and data-driven approach to monitoring student progress. To facilitate implementation, the School Education Department has completed specialized training for teachers across Quetta and other districts in the summer zone of Balochistan.
Officials say the initiative marks a transformative shift in the province’s education system. By identifying vulnerable students early and intervening effectively, the government hopes to significantly lower dropout rates and ensure that more children remain in school.
