Balochistan, Pakistan: Classrooms Where Confidence Grows

The courtyard hums with energy. Laughter echoes across the open grounds as students run and play, while others sit in small clusters revising for their exams. When the bell rings, they head into their classrooms carrying a mix of excitement, nerves and hope.

It’s an ordinary day at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Hub, Balochistan.

But inside one classroom, something extraordinary is unfolding.

Sonia’s Journey from Silence to Strength

Thirteen-year-old Sonia once blended into the background.

She avoided eye contact. She never raised her hand. Reading aloud made her anxious, and classroom activities felt overwhelming. Even when she knew the right answer, she chose to stay silent.

Everything began to shift in 2025, when her school introduced new teaching practices focused on foundational literacy and numeracy. These changes were part of teacher professional development reforms led by the Government of Balochistan, funded by the Global Partnership for Education and supported by UNICEF through the Secondary Education Department.

The goal wasn’t just better academic performance. It was about building confidence, participation and belonging.

Sonia’s teacher, Nargis, saw potential in her quiet student. Using new activity-based methods, she gradually brought Sonia into group work, pairing her with classmates who could encourage and support her.

Lessons became interactive. Simple tools — sticks, rhymes, flashcards and even balloons — turned abstract words and numbers into playful, hands-on learning experiences.

At first, Sonia hesitated. Then she tried.

Today, she is often the first to raise her hand. She reads aloud with confidence. When she completes a task, her classmates applaud. The student who once avoided attention now helps others and motivates her peers to participate.

Her transformation reflects a much larger change happening across the province.

Strengthening Teaching, Strengthening Trust

The foundational literacy and numeracy training program is now active in 21 districts of Balochistan. Nearly 4,400 primary school teachers in 1,500 schools are part of this initiative.

For teachers like Nargis, the impact has been profound.

She has noticed a renewed trust in public education. Families — including teachers themselves — are increasingly enrolling their children in government schools after seeing improvements in teaching quality.

Rukhsana Ali, who has nearly 13 years of teaching experience, describes the shift as transformative.

“Our training started in 2024, and it was unlike anything we had experienced before,” she explains. “We learned how to move from traditional lectures to activity-based learning. Lessons became more engaging, and our connection with students became stronger.”

Previously, teaching focused on delivering content. Now, the focus is on how children think and learn.

Role-play, group discussions, project-based learning and peer collaboration are now part of everyday instruction. Teachers encourage critical thinking, creativity and teamwork — skills that extend beyond the classroom.

Innovation Meets Tradition

Digital tools have also opened new possibilities. Teachers are using online videos and AI-supported resources to design creative activities and explain complex ideas in accessible ways.

The combination of hands-on learning and thoughtful technology is helping classrooms feel more dynamic and inclusive.

A Ripple Effect Across Balochistan

Sonia’s story is deeply personal — but it is not unique.

Across Balochistan, classrooms are becoming spaces where children are encouraged to speak, question and participate. Teachers are gaining confidence in their methods. Families are rediscovering trust in public schools.

Change doesn’t always arrive with grand announcements. Sometimes, it begins quietly — with a teacher who tries a new method, a student who raises her hand for the first time, or a classroom that feels just a little more welcoming than it did before.

And from there, confidence grows — one lesson at a time.