An education festival was organized in Mastung city of Balochistan by a student union, the Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC) with the title of Mastung Educational Festival. A magazine called Gaam was also exhibited at the festival. The Gaam magazine is launched in the native languages of Balochistan.
According to the BSAC statement released to the media, Mastung Educational Festival was held successfully in which Gaam magazine – a magazine in Baloch national languages for kids – was inaugurated and panel discussions on various themes such as the Baloch literacy campaign and the importance of education in the mother tongue were held.
The BSAC spokesperson said that Mastung had a key role in Baloch politics which produced distinguished political leaders and intellectuals. The statement said BSAC had desired to hold such a festival in Mastung for a long time and finally the commitment and hard work of its members turned it possible.
For the education and advancement of Baloch students, the organization has been conducting such events constantly. Publication of Navisht and Gaam magazines aims to promote Balochi and Brahui languages and the creation of new content in the said languages.
BSAC spokesperson said that exhibiting Gaam magazine at Mastung Educational Festival is aimed to provide productive literature at the school and college levels. “BSAC strongly considers educating youth on politics and the ideology of nationalism, and for maintaining and progressing it, Navisht and Gaam magazines will be published without any incompetency,” the spokesperson said.
In the second part of the ceremony in the festival, the Central Deputy Secretary General and Vice President of the organization’s Quetta Zone spoke on the theme of the Baloch Literacy Campaign and its importance. They also highlighted the activities of their organization in this regard.
Another panel discussion on the ‘role of mother languages in education’ was programmed in which professor Hamid Baloch and Lecturer Asif Baloch elaborated that getting an education in one’s mother language is a fundamental right. They stressed that getting an education in the mother language promotes creativity and talent. “Giving a nation education in another language decreases the interest of individuals in education and creates a feeling of alienation, and the same has done its damage in Balochistan,” speakers said.
In the last segment, professor Zaib-Ul-Nisa spoke on children’s literature, and Professor Munir Baloch on the role of the mother language in education and its psychological effects on children. Speakers stated that family and society leave a significant impact on the psyche of children.
In her speech on educational issues of Balochistan, Mrs. Nargis Sultana said that only in major cities educational institutes existed but they too lacked the required facilities. In the rest of Balochistan, education is rare to be found. She added that the schooling system had completely collapsed. She stressed that they needed a new policy on education. “Educational emergency is limited to political statements which should be implemented, on the ground,” she said.
At the end of the statement, the spokesperson of BSAC reiterated that the organization would continue its struggle towards promoting such festivals. He urged the citizens to play their role in Baloch Literacy Campaign so that schools in Balochistan could be functional and new schools could be built. “This will result in a better educational environment for Balochistan”, he concluded.