ife in the Cholistan desert is a lot like that of migratory birds. One is perpetually relocating in search of sustenance. Like the birds, desert people frequently relocate in pursuit of water. When they move, so do the mobile schools.” Mohammad Sharif is a teacher. He travels 25 kilometres every day from his home to teach children at a mobile school in Tobha Budhe Wala in the Cholistan desert.

The Cholistan desert is home to nearly 200,000 people. Situated 30 kilometres from Bahawalpur city, the desert is locally referred to as Rohi. The residents of this area are predominantly nomads, who establish their homes close to various water sources in the desert.

Approximately 20 kilometres from Bahawalpur’s historic Derawar Fort, deep inside the Cholistan desert, where camels quench their thirst from tobas (ponds), a number of local children receive education under the cool shade of thick trees. The inhabitants of Cholistan sustain their livelihoods through livestock and migrate to various areas of the desert throughout the year. In these circumstances, children grow up following their elders, nurturing the livestock.

Since 2014, mobile schools, launched under a project initiated through the collaborative efforts of the Cholistan Development Authority and the Punjab Education Foundation, have been providing education to these children. Some of the students study while seated on mats beneath the open sky. Others engage in learning in classrooms constructed from mud and tree branches.

“Prior to the establishment of these schools, these children would be occupied with the livestock from dawn till dusk. Now, they attend school, happily carrying their bags and books,” says Mohammad Sharif. “The parents have also become more aware of the importance of education. The Punjab Education Foundation covers the associated costs,” he adds.

Ijaz Ahmad, a teacher at the mobile school in Tobha Khando Wali, has been working there for the past year. He says that the curriculum includes not only regular subjects taught at schools but also religious education and basic life skills. “I travel 60 kilometres every day to teach 40 children. If some day they move to a different part of the desert or the Greater Cholistan, I’ll continue to be with them.”

“These children are incredibly smart and have shown a lot of commitment,” Ahmad says. His own commitment to teaching these children highlights how important education is for shaping their future despite the challenges posed by the rough environment they live in.

A recent report by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics from the 2023 digital census gives an overview of literacy rates in Pakistan. The report shows that the literacy rate for the country stands at 61 percent, with 68 percent of men and 53 percent of women being literate. 36 percent of the children are out of school. This means 25.37 million children, aged 5 to 16, aren’t attending school. In terms of literacy rates among the provinces, the Punjab ranks second with 66 percent. 9.6 million children, or 27 percent, remain out of school in the province.

“The Literate Cholistan project, started by the government in 2010, aimed to improve educational opportunities in the region. Although the project had a good start, it ended five years later,” says Imtiaz Lashari, a sub-divisional officer at the Cholistan Development Authority. He says that the project established 75 non-formal schools in the Cholistan desert. After the project ended, the Punjab Education Foundation partnered with the Cholistan Development Authority to continue the educational effort in the region. Lashari says he had first raised the issue of education for Cholistan’s children in 1996. However, progress was slow due to lack of resources and an effective monitoring mechanism.

“An interesting aspect of the mobile school project is that more girls are attending these schools than boys. Each school has around 40 to 50 children. This shows that the mobile school model has been effective in reaching underserved areas and addressing educational gaps in the region,” says Lashari.

Ehsan-ul Haq, the Punjab Education Foundation deputy director, provides more details. “There are 76 mobile schools operating in the Cholistan desert, where 2,680 children are receiving education. Additionally, there are 140 community schools educating 9,383 children in the desert” he says. The foundation ensures that teachers get travel allowances and are provided all necessary stationery and educational material for the children. “They also cover school fees, removing financial obstacles and making sure education is accessible,” he says.

“These children are talented. We aim to provide them with the best facilities possible within our budget. Our mission is to promote education, especially in areas where such systems previously did not exist,” says Ehsan-ul Haq.

The dream of securing an education is slowly turning into a reality for many children in this desert.

The writer is a freelance journalist in Multan. She contributes blogs and multimedia reports to various digital media platforms