Pakistan’s education system faces serious challenges, not only because about 26 million children are out of school but also because the quality of education is very low. In fact, only around 5 percent of children are getting a good education.
Additionally, just 12 percent of young people who are eligible for higher education currently have access to it, according to the Education Ministry’s new “National Education Policy Development Framework 2024,” which was launched recently.
The framework states that no province in Pakistan is free from these education problems. Since having an educated workforce is essential for a country’s economic and social growth, these issues are a big reason why Pakistan ranks low in human development, standing at 164 out of 193 countries.
The policy framework was introduced by Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, the Minister for Education and Professional Training, at an official event.
The National Education Policy Development Framework also highlights the problem of stunting among children. Stunting, which means children are too short for their age due to poor nutrition, affects their ability to learn and grow properly. This adds another challenge to improving education in Pakistan, as healthy children are better able to benefit from schooling.
The event was organized by the Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE), which is part of the Education Ministry. Pakistan hasn’t updated its national education policy since 2009. In 2018, an education framework was introduced, and now this new document will serve as a guide to help develop education policies at the provincial level.
Along with highlighting issues like poor education quality and many children being out of school, the framework also pointed out the problem of stunting — about 40 percent of children are permanently affected by it by the time they turn five. Despite rules against it, corporal punishment still happens in schools.
The framework also mentioned that bullying and child abuse are serious problems that don’t get enough attention.
It added that while higher education has grown quickly in recent years, the changing global environment and the country’s needs require a careful review of what the higher education sector really needs going forward.