We need education

The staggering reality that at least 25 million children in Pakistan are out of school is an indictment of this state, society and government. Of this alarming number, 12 million are girls, a stark reflection of the gender disparity in education. Girls from low-income families are 22 per cent less likely to attend school compared to their male counterparts, a gap that narrows significantly for girls from wealthier households. Nationwide, 26 per cent of girls have never stepped foot in a classroom. The inequality persists in higher education, where only 49 per cent of women have access to learning opportunities, compared to 71 per cent of men. For the minority of women who manage to secure a degree against all odds, the prospects remain bleak. The unemployment rate for women graduates is 3.8 times higher than for male degree holders, according to the Pakistan Social Living Standards survey. The survey further paints a grim picture, estimating it will take another 50 years to enroll all girls in school and 31 years to do the same for boys.

These figures lay bare the repeated failures of successive governments to address the barriers to education. For families slipping below the poverty line, sending children to work becomes a harsh necessity to supplement income. Girls, in particular, bear the brunt, as the informal domestic labour market offers easy opportunities to exploit their vulnerability. Many households depend on the cheap domestic help provided by underprivileged girls, trapping them in a cycle of poverty and modern-day bonded labour. While the government has focused on drafting stricter child labour laws, the issue demands a more nuanced approach. Poor parents often view the education system as inherently biased against them, believing their children will never access the opportunities available to wealthier families. This perception compels many parents to pull their children out of school and put them to work instead, perpetuating a grim cycle of poverty and illiteracy.

As a nation, we proudly proclaim that Pakistan’s greatest asset is its youth. Yet, such statements often focus on the privileged few while ignoring the millions who are left behind. To bring out-of-school children back into classrooms, the government must adopt policies that address the economic realities of poor families. This includes calculating the financial burden parents bear when sending their children to school and designing interventions to offset these costs. Providing small stipends to families that keep their children enrolled in school can serve as a crucial incentive. Such initiatives, paired with a broader push for inclusive education reforms, can begin to break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy that has plagued millions for generations. Pakistan cannot afford to lose another generation to ignorance and deprivation. Every child – regardless of gender or socio-economic background – has to be ensured access to education. Only then can we hope to turn this demographic advantage into a national asset.