Evaluating the Impact of Devolution on Educational Outcomes in Balochistan: Evidence from 22 Districts (2004–2015)

This study examines the effects of Pakistan’s 18th Constitutional Amendment (2010), that decentralized education governance to provincial governments on educational outcomes in Balochistan. Based on district level data from the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement (PSLM) Surveys, 2004–2015, it adopts a Difference-in-Differences (DiD) method across 22 districts to assess pre- and post-devolution performance. Four measures were examined: completion (primary and above), net enrolment (middle and matric levels), adult literacy. The findings show significant increase in all the parameters after devolution, with middle level enrollment and primary completion rate reported as significant, and uneven gains were observed; Mastung, Kharan, and Gwadar showed improvement, whereas Awaran, Lasbela, and Jhal Magsi lagged behind. The results further highlight that although devolution facilitated responsiveness and increased local policy design, the structural barriers including inadequate institutional capacity and regional disparities had an adverse effect on equity in outcomes. The study concludes the decentralized system may improve the quality of education, if supported by targeted investments, governance capacity building and context specific reforms to ensure equity across all districts in Balochistan.