CSS Current Affairs | Challenges Faced by the People of Balochistan
The following question of CSS Current Affairs is solved by Dr. Arzoo Fatima under the supervision of Howfiv’s Pakistan Affairs and Current Affairs Coaches. She learnt how to attempt 20 marks question and essay writing from Sir Syed Kazim Ali, Pakistan’s best CSS and PMS English essay and precis teacher with the highest success rate of his students. This solved past paper question is attempted on the pattern taught by Sir to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory and optional subjects for years, and uploaded to help aspirants understand how to crack a topic or question, how to write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.
Outline
1-Introduction
2-Overview of the current situation of Baluchistan
3-What are the education and healthcare challenges faced by the people of Baluchistan?
3.1-Education Challenges
- ✓Insufficient budget reservation for education
- Evidence: According to IN Crisis Group, Baluchistan has spent less than 2% on its education sector
- ✓Lack of technical and vocational Educational Institute
- Evidence:According to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), enrollment in technical education in Baluchistan remains low, standing at only 5.8%
- ✓Inadequate teacher’s training and brain drain
- Evidence: According to the UNESCO report, there are no proper training standards in the available training institutes in Baluchistan
- ✓Poor Quality Education and lack of policies
- Evidence: According to the National Library Institute, Baluchistan has one of the lowest literacy rates, with just around 18% of adults able to read and write
3.2-Health care Challenges
- ✓ Increase in Infant mortality rate
- Evidence: According to the Bio-med Child and Maternal Health Institute, Baluchistan has the country’s highest infant mortality rate
- ✓Increasing in the cases of Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome(PCOS)
- Evidence: According to the Healthcare and Research Institute, nearly half of the women in Baluchistan are suffering from PCOS, and they are reluctant to engage in discussion about it
- ✓Slowdown Health and well-being
- Evidence: According to a report from the Council on Medical Education states that basic healthcare facilities are negligible in Baluchistan, which include wound care and emergency management
- ✓Psychological stress and depression
- Evidence: According to the Global Meta-Analysis Evidence, 70% of the population in Baluchistan is under psychological stress
4-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
1-Introduction
Education and health are the most precious possessions in an individual’s life. It not only promotes socio-economic growth but also connects the whole world into a community. Unfortunately, Baluchistan’s education system has been in crisis for the past few decades. According to UNESCO, the literacy rate in Baluchistan was 19% in 2020, just because of a lack of implementation of educational policies, and owing to that, health conditions are also deteriorating. However, if this threat is not promptly addressed, it poses obstacles to a nation’s advancement. There is a shortage of technical and vocational education, a lack of budget allocation, a lack of medical facilities, and an increase in infant mortality rate, which are the challenges faced by Baluchistan. Moreover, the crisis has the capacity to derail the socio-political and economic fabric of a state. However, all hope is not lost and can still be overcome by enhancing educational opportunities, implementing curriculum, and providing medical facilities and awareness campaigns through education. Hence, by adopting these approaches, Baluchistan has the potential to pave the way towards fostering personal empowerment, strengthening social unity, and driving national progress.
2- Overview of the current situation in Baluchistan
At present,Baluchistan has been facing a crisis over the past many years that has jolted its foundation. Baluchistan has expressed its commitment to promote education and health in the country, but none have been implemented in an authentic way. Constitutionally, Article 25 (A) grants the right to free and compulsory education for all between the ages of five and sixteen, and the SDG’s goal is to provide health opportunities to all.According to a labour force survey, the literacy rate in Baluchistan in 2021 was barely 18%. This has indicated that the marginalized interest rates and health rates of facilities are stagnant.Baluchistan has faced challenges that become a looming threat, which has engulfed the state in all realms.
3-What are the educational and healthcare challenges faced by the people of Baluchistan?
3.1-Educational Challenges
- ✓Insufficient budget reservation for education
The insufficient budget allocation leads to an education crisis. The successive governments have allocated less than 2.5% of the budget for education, which is less than for growing needs of Baluchistan. According to IN Crisis group, Baluchistan has spent less than 1% on its education sector. Thus, with such insufficient budget allocation in Baluchistan is standing on the verge of chaos and unable to meet its Sustainable Development Goal-4(SDG).
- ✓Lack of technical and vocational Educational Institute
Lack of technical and vocational education has led to the crisis. They play a crucial role in the strength of a nation and the advancement of a state. On the contrary, Baluchistan is unable to provide skilled labour. According to UNESCO, enrollment in technical education in Baluchistan remains low, standing at only 5.8%. The significance of technical and vocational education on national development was underscored by this, revealing how it hindered economic growth and devastated the employment sector. Hence, the increasing gap between the demand and supply of education leads to an education crisis.
- ✓Inadequate teacher’s training and brain drain
Inadequate teacher training and brain drain are the most prominent challenges. There is a shortage of well-trained teachers, which continues to undermine the quality of teaching and learning outcomes. According to the UNESCO report, there are no proper training standards in the available training institutes in Baluchistan. This highlighted that there is insufficient allocation of funds for training institutes, and low salaries contribute to the lack of qualified education. As a result, the lack of qualified teachers has staggered the progress and development.
- ✓Poor Quality Education and lack of policies
Poor Quality Education and lack of policies lead to the most dominant challenge and highlight a pressing issue in the educational crisis landscape. According to the National Library Institute, Baluchistan has one of the lowest literacy rates, with just around 18% of adults able to read and write. This underscores that inappropriate quality education imparts negligence and promotes intolerance and polarization among the masses. Moreover, According to the report, the curricula used in many schools have not been updated for decades. Thus, it hampered the talent of young individuals who are the future of the nation.
3.2-Health care Challenges
- ✓ Increase in Maternal and Infant mortality rate
In Baluchistan, there is an increase in the infant mortality rate due to the lack of medical facilities and awareness. In addition, the maternal mortality rate is estimated at 300 per 100,000 live births, exceeding 176. The child mortality rate is 86 per 1,000 live births, higher than the national average of 72. According to the Bio-med Child and Maternal Health Institute, Baluchistan has the country’s highest infant mortality rate. It underscores the Limited access to quality health services; poor nutrition, poverty, and lack of awareness contribute to these alarming rates. There is a need to address these issues. Baluchistan must adopt a comprehensive approach, improving access to care and enhancing nutrition.
- ✓Increasing the cases of Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome
Limited progress has been made in Baluchistan in terms of achieving these health-related objectives. The primary cause for the inability to meet the targets outlined in the MDGs is the poor state of healthcare facilities in both urban and rural areas of Baluchistan. According to the Healthcare and Research Institute, nearly half of the women in Baluchistan are suffering from PCOS, and they are reluctant to engage in discussion about it. It underscores that maternal health has been in dire need to be addressed, but due to cultural barriers, it remained stagnant. Thus, health challenges have severe effects on Baluchistan progress and development.
- ✓Slowdown Health and well-being
A limited number of people hold considerable power over the healthcare system in Baluchistan. Medical facilities are experiencing deficiencies in essential supplies such as medications, medical equipment, ambulances, skilled healthcare professionals, and other vital resources necessary for quality healthcare services. According to a report from the Council on Medical Education, basic healthcare facilities, including wound care and emergency management, are negligible in Baluchistan. It highlights the grave picture of the healthcare system, which is standing on the verge of chaos. Thus, it poses a hurdle in the advancement of individuals and falls them far behind in the current competition.
- ✓Psychological stress and depression
Health is an essential part of contributing to a healthier population, reducing the burden on healthcare systems. Regrettably, in Baluchistan, there is a lack of oversight regarding the mental well-being of individuals. According to the Global Meta-Analysis Evidence, 70% of the population in Baluchistan is feeling self-doubt and inadequacy. Baluchistan is ranked the most depressed youth globally. These massive, grave consequences have negatively impacted the future of the nation. Ultimately, progress would shrink if people did not pay attention to their psychological health.
4- Conclusion
In a nutshell, education and health are the most important indicators of one’s life, and they are irreplaceable and guide people in all domains of life, such as social, moral, spiritual, political, and economic. Unfortunately, Baluchistan is plagued by a severe education crisis and health challenges. The causes include an outdated curriculum that is pushing the youth towards the Stone Age and a lack of budget reservation. Moreover, Increase in Maternal and Infant mortality rate and psychological stress. However, the country has to launch effective measures to promote educational and healthcare stability
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