Education Crisis Rages in Pakistan With Over 26 Million Children Out Of School
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Loading... - Ivaan Barad
- 12 Sep 2024
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Pakistan is currently grappling with a severe education crisis, with over 26 million children out of school across the country, as highlighted by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training. Despite various governmental efforts and commitments to address this issue, the number of out-of-school children remains alarmingly high.
The statistics reveal that among these 26.20 million children, around 10 million are in the 5-9 age group, approximately 5 million are aged 10-12, and 4.5 million fall within the 13-14 age bracket. Additionally, 6 million adolescents aged 13-16 are out of school and missing out on higher secondary education.
In response to a query from Member of National Assembly Shahida Rehmani, Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui provided a written reply detailing the situation. However, this reply was not debated in the National Assembly. Rehmani also inquired about the government's efforts to boost girls' enrollment in schools, a significant concern given that 53% of the out-of-school children are girls, with the problem being particularly acute in rural areas.
To address this issue, the Federal Directorate of Education has initiated the establishment of 200 computer labs in educational institutions in Islamabad, aimed at teaching coding and IT skills, particularly to girls. This initiative is part of a broader effort to equip girls with entrepreneurial and technological skills.
Despite these initiatives, the crisis persists, with a significant gap in enrollment, particularly in rural areas, where the literacy rate is already low, and where 51% of children in the 5-9 age group have never been enrolled in school. The situation is further exacerbated by a high dropout rate, with 50% of school-age children either dropping out or no longer attending school.
