The Current Plight of Education in Pakistan
In a startling revelation, the challenge of out-of-school children (OSC) in Pakistan has reached a critical juncture, with over 28 million OSC, as per a letter from the federal caretaker education minister, Madad Ali Sindhi, to the Punjab education minister.
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The Current Plight of Education in Pakistan
In spite of successive governments’ lofty promises to ensure the enrollment of out-of-school children, the number of these young learners continues to surge at an alarming pace, now exceeding a staggering 28 million, as reported in an official document from the Ministry of Education. Previously, the precise count of out-of-school children (OSC) was elusive, with estimates ranging from 18.7 million to 22 million. However, the latest document firmly establishes the figure at over 28 million OSC.
In 2021, the Federal Cabinet was briefed by then Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood, who revealed that there were 18.7 million out-of-school children in the country. His report also highlighted the sluggish progress in education participation, the completion of education, and the closure of the gender gap. Consequently, a roadmap was proposed and approved by the Cabinet to bring out-of-school children back to the educational fold. Unfortunately, this initiative did not translate into substantive actions, leaving the issue largely unaddressed.
This remarkable increase in the number of out-of-school children underscores the inefficiency of policymakers in the country. Pakistan now ranks among the countries with the highest number of out-of-school children globally, a situation that demands urgent attention. An official emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, ‘The situation is highly alarming, and there is an immediate need for an educational emergency to ensure the enrollment of more children in schools. This figure represents an all-time high, and the urgency to address it cannot be overstated. We were previously slightly ahead of Nigeria, but we now find ourselves at the bottom of the list.
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The recent revelation regarding the alarming number of Out-of-School Children (OSC) came to light in a letter addressed to the Punjab education minister by the federal caretaker education minister, Madad Ali Sindhi. Dated October 10, the letter outlined the need for a meeting, originally scheduled for October 16 but subsequently postponed, to discuss the formulation of a uniform national strategy to address the critical issue of 28+ million OSC.
The letter further urged all provincial education ministers to submit a concise and comprehensive working paper, encompassing relevant statistics, administrative and financial challenges, and concrete recommendations for the sustainable resolution of this pressing challenge. Despite past campaigns aimed at enrolling these children, the issue persists, and an unnamed school teacher in Islamabad noted that OSC remains one of the most significant challenges in the country’s education sector. He attributed this problem to poverty and lack of awareness, emphasizing that many children are engaged in labor to support their families and, until this issue is resolved, their access to education remains limited.
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Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. _ Nelson Mandela
Additionally, an official from the education ministry, while acknowledging the severity of the situation, indicated a discrepancy in the figures, stating that the official correspondence suggests 28 million OSC, but the actual figure stands at 22.8 million, which is still a cause for alarm.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that Pakistan allocates only 1.7 percent of its GDP to education, a figure significantly lower than the 4 percent recommended for the enhancement of the education sector, underscoring the need for increased investment in education to tackle the OSC issue effectively.