Factors Driving the Choice of Education in Pashtun-dominated Areas of Baluchistan: a research essay

Abstract

This study is a synthesis of existing research knowledge and of empirical research in the geographic areas of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in which ethnic Pashtuns are a majority. The subject is the how fundamental principles, beliefs and cultural commitments motivate and shape decision-making in education for parents of pre-tertiary young people. Parental choice may seem limited and obvious, but it is subject to a matrix of factors. Access to the rural areas of Pakistan requires navigation, as does understanding the cultural depth of ethnic Pashtuns. Researched and written by a resident official, this study aims to uncover the layers of meaning and significance within the seemingly elemental choice faced by most if not all parents – how their child learns, and what and where they learn. The implications of this decision, this study maintains, will be a shaping factor for a culture and society in transition. And it remains so for current ethnic Pashtuns in relation to the madrassas, private and public schools.