Emergence of New Education in Balochestan Province and their Development in first Pahlavi Era

Despite its special and strategic importance, Baluchistan is one of the areas that has been neglected during the Qajar dynasty. Before 1928, this region was not much influenced by the cultural movement in Iran and education was limited. However, after the appointment of Reza Shah and the deployment of the army in this area, important steps were taken in line with the Baloch children's literacy. Hence, the present research is aimed to study the evolution and function of modern schools in Baluchistan. Considering the significance of the research subject, it is tried to identify the reasons for the lack of development and progress of modern schools in Baluchistan, the response of Balochi people to the establishment of modern schools, and the role of the military in the development of these schools in a historical descriptive-analytical study using library resources and newly-found documents. The findings indicated that after a military operation in Baluchistan and the deployment of the army in 1928, the government focused its attention on the establishment of new schools. Nevertheless, the Baluch people not only did not respond positively to such actions but also stubbornly resisted them. On the other hand, lack of governmental institutions and offices, large area of this region, unfamiliarity of Baluch people with the benefits of education, problems with the provision of books and writing materials, people’s poverty and inability to provide uniform clothing, propaganda of religious clerics against modern schools, and the government’s disregard for cultural affairs were the main barriers to the development and progress of modern schools in Baluchistan.