Education in Gilgit–Baltistan
Gilgit Baltistan (GB) is an area which affiliated with Pakistan in 1948. There was no educational system at the time. Gradually some of the more ambitions students of GB moved toward different cities (such as Karachi and Lahore) in search of a better education. Some of them returned to their home after completion of their education, and started teaching their children, thus making people aware of what it was to be literate. They demanded the government build schools in the region, but their demand was neglected because the region didn't have a representative in the senate or national assembly of Pakistan. After several years, schools were opened in Gilgit Baltistan and thus its educational system came into being.
Beginnings
At first, only primary and middle-schools were available. Gradually, these middle-schools were upgraded to high-schools. In the 70s, students had to migrate in order to attend university.
Actuality
During the last decade the first higher education institutions were constructed. The first university, Karakoram University, was founded during the reign of Pervez Musharaf. The university was established in 2002 by a charter from the federal government on the orders of Pervez Musharraf, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Another campus of this university was established in Skardu Hussain Abad in 2010, though it currently faces financial strains.
There are eighteen colleges in GB, including eight girls' colleges and ten boys' colleges. Ten of them are in the Gilgit district and seven are in the Skardu District. Seven are degree colleges, eight are intermediate and other two are elementary colleges.
Statistics
According to a World Bank Economic Report On Gilgit-Baltistan (2010–11), the net primary school enrolment in Gilgit Baltistan is 51%, the net middle-school enrollment is 17%, and only 14% are enrolled in matric school. In other words, only 17 out of every 100 students achieve the middle level and only 14 out of every 100 students reach to matric level.
According to a current survey,[citation needed] approximately a thousand students belonging to Baltistan are studying in different colleges and universities of Karachi. There are no medical or engineering colleges in the area. A large number of students are studying in different colleges and schools of Pakistan. However, seats for Gilgit Baltistan are very limited in engineering and medical colleges. There are no scholarship programs for higher education in GB. Medical colleges in Karachi do not provide a single seat for students coming from GB. On September 29, 2009 Prime Minister Gillani announced the foundation of the first medical college. However, construction hasn't begun. Currently, the local government has allocated an amount of over Rs361 million (5.3% of the total budget) towards education in the ares.
References
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