700,000 children added to total number of out-of-school children every year

ISLAMABAD: Every year, approximately 700,000 youngsters are added to the total out-of-school children in Pakistan, reveals official statistics.

The latest statistics acquired from sources in Education Ministry reveal that from 2016-17 till 2021-22, the total number of out-of-school children increased from 22.02 million to 26.21 million. This shows that in these six years, over four million children were added to the list of out-of-school children in Pakistan.

These statistics reflect that on an average, approximately 700,000 youngsters add up to the total number of out-of-school children in Pakistan every year.

Provincial wise, in Punjab, there were a total of 10.53 million out-of-school children in 2016-17. Whereas the number increased to 11.37 million in 2021-22. In Sindh, there were a total of 6.41 million out-of-school children in 2016-17 which increased to 7.63 million in 2021-22. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, there were 3.13 million out of school children in 2016-17 which escalated to 3.63 million in 2021-22. In Balochistan, a total of 1.91 million children were out of school in 2016-17. The number increased to 3.13m in 2021-22.

Whereas in Islamabad, there were a total of 50,000 out-of-school children in 2016-17 which rose to 80,000 in 2021-2022. Accumulatively, out of the total, 11.73 million out of school children belong to Punjab, 7.63 million to Sindh, 3.63 million to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 3.13 million to Balochistan and 0.08 million from federal capital, Islamabad. The age bracket of the out-of-school children fall from five to 16 years of age.

According to the latest data, 60 percent of children that fall in the bracket of higher secondary level of education are deprived of education which is the highest among other levels. 58 percent of these are male while 63 percent are female children. 44 percent of the children who should be getting high level of education are out of school and among them, 42 percent are male and 45 percent are female. A total of 30 percent of children who should be getting middle level education are out of school. 24 percent are male and 35 percent are female. And lastly, 36 percent of children who should be getting primary level education are out of school. Among them, 32 percent are male and 39 percent female.