UNHCR-built school building spurs 60% increase in girls' enrollment, inspires young students to dream big

Students now love coming to school, thanks to programme to improve learning infrastructure. In 2024, 85% of those benefiting from the support in Balochistan, were Pakistani students.

This year marked a significant change for Syada Falak Shah and her friends, who returned to school to find a new school building and upgraded furniture.

Previously cramped into four classrooms, with students spilling onto verandas and sitting on carpets, UNHCR replaced the old facility with 12 large and bright classrooms, and furnished it with desks and chairs, transforming the learning environment.

The principal of Government Girls High School Pahari Muhalla, Loralai district, Ms. Qamar Sultana, expressed her joy at the works, describing the move to the new school as a game-changer with the impact immediately felt by students, teachers and the wider community. "The new building has made a significant impression on people," Ms. Sultana noted proudly. "This year, we've seen a 60 percent increase in enrollment, with parents feeling encouraged to enroll their daughters here."

UNHCR, in collaboration with local authorities, provided assistance in 2024 for the construction, rehabilitation and provision of essential educational materials including furniture, to 119 public schools in Balochistan province across eight refugee-hosting districts, with an overall aim of supporting both refugees and their host communities in Pakistan. Close to 6,000 students were supported, almost 85% of them Pakistani students.

By improving infrastructure, UNHCR is aiming to increase access to schools for both boys and girls, and ensure they have safe learning environments in Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh provinces as well as Islamabad.

However, infrastructure improvements form just one branch of a tree of support – which includes also accelerated learning programmes and financial assistance to encourage continued learning at secondary level, in particular for girls and young women.

The positive effect of UNHCR's support was evident not just in the physical infrastructure but also in the renewed spirit of learning and aspiration among the students. "I love coming to school even more now, I want to join government services one day, and this new environment motivates me to work harder," Syada shared, her eyes gleaming with ambition.

As Syada Falak Shah walked through the corridors of her new school, her dreams seemed closer than ever. With each step, she embraced the opportunities that lay ahead, fueled by the transformative power of education in her life.

In a significant milestone, UNHCR in collaboration with local authorities, including the Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees has implemented over 4,500 projects in the sectors of health, education, infrastructure, livelihoods, water and sanitation and energy since 2009.

The projects - worth approximately $273 million - benefited around 14 million individuals including 84% Pakistani communities and 16% refugees.

These projects are in addition to the humanitarian assistance that was provided by UNHCR to the Pakistani communities during crises such as earthquake, floods and during conflicts.

Humera Karim in Loralai district, Balochistan