ISLAMABAD, QUETTA, JUN 19: /DNA/ – The Human Resource Development (HRD) of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan and the Education Testing Council (ETC), the examination body of HEC, conducted a series of orientation sessions for principals of degree colleges located in 39 districts of Balochistan alongside senior officials of education departments including District Education Officers.
As many as 200 principals and officials attended the sessions held at Government Girls Postgraduate College, Quetta Cantt. Minister for Education Balochistan Ms. Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani attended the closing ceremony of the sessions as the chief guest.
It is pertinent to mention here that the HRD / ETC HEC and the School Education Department (SED), Government of Balochistan, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in May 2026. Under the MoU, HRD / ETC agreed to hold aptitude test for the female candidates of Balochistan to avail themselves of 400 scholarships under the Balochistan Education Support Programme (BESP) and pursue B.Ed./BS Education at the leading national universities from Fall 2026 session. In this regard, the HRD / ETC held orientation sessions for the principals and other senior officials on their role in the successful conduct of the aptitude test in the near future.
The scholarship initiative, launched by SED Government of Balochistan with financial support from the World Bank, aims to provide deserving and underprivileged female students with access to quality teacher education and equip them with the knowledge and skills required to contribute effectively to the education sector of the province.
In her remarks, Ms. Durrani appreciated the participation of stakeholders and acknowledged the efforts of HEC Pakistan for organizing informative and impactful orientation sessions for deserving and underprivileged female students of Balochistan. She emphasized that such initiatives play a vital role in promoting higher education and women’s empowerment in the province.
The Human Resource Development (HRD) team, led by Project Director HRD, Bahram Qasim Jan, briefed the participants that the scholarship programme is fully funded and aims to enhance access to higher education opportunities for the students of Balochistan. He encouraged students to take full advantage of this opportunity and pursue their academic goals with dedication and commitment.
The ETC team, led by Consultant Dr. Imtiaz Haider, guided participants regarding the scholarship aptitude test and highlighted key important points. A mock test was also conducted at the end of the session.
Follow-up sessions will be conducted in different districts to ensure wider dissemination of information and encourage all eligible students to benefit from this opportunity.
