Pakistan's Education Emergency: 25.3 Million Out-of-School Children

Pakistan is grappling with a severe education crisis, with 25.3 million children out of school, particularly in rural areas. The crisis is exacerbated by poverty, restricted access, and gender disparity, impacting literacy rates and future prospects. Despite a declared emergency, concrete actions remain absent.

Pakistan is grappling with a severe education crisis, with a staggering 25.3 million children aged 5 to 16 out of school, representing 36 per cent of the country's school-age population. The problem is worse in rural areas, where the enrollment deficit is highest. According to the 2023 Population Census, the report 'The Missing Third of Pakistan', published by the Pak Alliance for Maths and Science (PAMS), provides the first comprehensive analysis of out-of-school children (OOSC) at the tehsil level, reported The Express Tribune.

The report highlights that 74 per cent of Pakistani children live in rural areas, where efforts to boost enrollment face significant challenges such as limited access to schools, poverty, and social barriers. The rural-urban divide in education is growing, with about 18.8 million OOSC residing in rural regions. Children aged 5 to 9 are particularly at risk, with 51 per cent never having attended school, and 50 per cent having dropped out or ceased attending. These early educational setbacks are expected to have long-term impacts on literacy rates.

In rural communities, delayed enrollment is a notable issue, driven by economic constraints and limited resources. Gender disparity worsens the situation, with 53 per cent of out-of-school children being girls. In some tehsils, up to 80 per cent of girls aged 5 to 16 have never been to school, highlighting significant gender inequality in education access. Even urban areas, typically better resourced, are not immune; for instance, Karachi has nearly 1.8 million out-of-school children. Despite Pakistan having the second-highest number of OOSC globally, no concrete measures have been taken following the prime minister's declaration of a state of emergency over this crisis in May.

(With inputs from agencies.)