Education is a cornerstone for progress in any nation or society, but sadly, in Pakistan, over 200 million children are deprived of the opportunity to attend school.
According to the Pakistan Institute of Education, more than 200 million children are currently out of school in the country. In the province of Punjab alone, over 110 million children are deprived of education, while in Sindh, the number exceeds 70 million.
The Institute reveals that in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, over 360,000 children, and in Balochistan, over 310,000 children are not attending school. Additionally, approximately 80,000 children in Islamabad are also out of school. Shockingly, 39% of children at the age of attending school are currently not enrolled.
| Province | Children Out of School (in millions) |
|---|---|
| Punjab | 110+ |
| Sindh | 70+ |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 360,000+ |
| Balochistan | 310,000+ |
| Islamabad | 80,000+ |
The data from 2016-17 indicated that 44% of children were not attending school, and although there has been a slight improvement by 2021, with 39% still out of school, the situation remains alarming. At the higher secondary level, a staggering 60% of children were found to be outside the school system in the academic year 2021.
The education crisis persists, highlighting the need for urgent and comprehensive measures to ensure that every child in Pakistan has access to quality education, paving the way for a brighter future for the nation.
