ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan faces an uphill task to ensure that all children, especially the disadvantaged, not only attend school but continue to learn, as a shocking revelation on Thursday showed that 26 million children across the country are out of school.
The disclosure was made in a report titled ‘Girls’ Education Statistics and Trends Report 2023-24 (GESTR)’, released by Education and Vocational Training Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui in the federal capital.
The report, prepared in collaboration with the Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE), Malala Fund, Pakistan Alliance for Girls’ Education (PAGE) and the Ministry of Education, reveals that 25.37 million children between the ages of 5 and 16 are out of school, including 13.41 million girls and 11.96 million boys.
In total, the report states that 26.2 million children currently lack education.
According to UNICEF, Pakistan has the second highest number of out-of-school children in the world.
GESTR says Punjab tops the list with 9.6 million out-of-school children, including 4.83 million girls and 4.77 million boys. It also has the highest number of out-of-school girls.
Sindh follows with 7.82 million out-of-school children, including 4.09 million girls. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 4.92 million children are out of school, including 2.29 million girls, while in Balochistan there are 2.94 million, including 1.53 million girls. In Islamabad, 90,000 children do not go to school, including 40,000 girls.
The report presents a gloomy picture of school dropouts at all educational levels. While 20.815 million children are enrolled in the primary level, the figure drops to 9.207 million in middle school, 4.699 million in enrollment and 2.825 million in the intermediate level. At the university level, only 718,000 students enroll in degree programs.
Gender data shows that 10.906 million boys and 9.888 million girls are enrolled in the primary level. At the secondary level, 4.877 million boys and 4.33 million girls continue their education. At the matric level, the number decreases to 2.545 million boys and 2.154 million girls. At the upper secondary level, 1.476 million boys and 1.349 million girls are enrolled.
However, at the university level, female enrollment exceeds male enrollment, with 428,000 women compared to 290,000 men, indicating a gradual improvement in women’s access to higher education.
The report highlights improvements in infrastructure, noting that 96% of schools have permanent buildings, 92% have bathrooms and 82% provide drinking water. The primary completion rate for girls has increased from 75% to 89%. However, challenges persist such as malnutrition affecting children’s height and weight.
It also notes that due to rapid population growth, the number of schools per 1,000 children has decreased. Only 23% of schools have ramps for people with disabilities, and even fewer provide special learning materials or assistive devices. Only 19% of schools have digital devices, while only 23% of teachers in girls’ institutions have received basic training.
Alarmingly, the share of the education budget has fallen from 13% to 11%, with 94% of the funds spent on salaries, leaving little room for development spending. Although women are approaching parity in higher education, their participation in the workforce remains only 24%.
