The Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE) has shed light on a worsening education crisis in the country, with the number of out-of-school children skyrocketing from 22.02 million to a staggering 26.21 million.
The preliminary teaser of the PIE’s Pakistan Education Statistics Report 2021-22 has underscored the critical state of education accessibility in Pakistan. The full report, set to be unveiled on Monday, is expected to provide detailed insights into the concerning rise in out-of-school children.
As of the 2021-22 academic year, the report reveals that 26.2 million children across Pakistan are currently out of school. This figure represents a disturbing 39% of children in the school-going age group, indicating a persistent challenge in achieving universal education.
Among the provinces, Balochistan stands out with the highest percentage, where a staggering 65% of children are out of school, while the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) reports the lowest percentage. In comparison, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) fares better with a 30% out-of-school rate.
Despite a decrease in the percentage of out-of-school children from 44% in 2016-17 to 39% in 2021-22, the absolute number has surged from 22.02 million to 26.21 million during the same period. This increase is primarily attributed to the population growth rate outpacing the decrease in out-of-school children.
The report highlights a disconcerting 60% of children being out of school at the higher secondary level in 2021-22. Further analysis reveals out-of-school rates of 44%, 30%, and 36% at the high, middle, and primary levels, respectively.
A substantial portion of the out-of-school children, totaling 10.77 million, is at the primary level, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted interventions.
Economic disparities play a significant role in educational access, with children from the poorest quintile facing the highest disadvantage across all education levels. Detailed insights into economic disparities and additional statistics are expected to be unveiled during a comprehensive release scheduled for Monday at PIE Islamabad.
