Education overhaul

The Pakistan Education Statistics Report 2015-16 indicated advances in net enrollment rate in primary education, the availability of physical facilities in government schools and reduction in number of Out-of-school Children (OOSC). Although the report suggests that improvements have been made in the education sector, in reality no serious work has been done by the government to improve the standard of education in the country. Education and health are most neglected sectors in the present PML-N-led government. Despite these statistics, Pakistan still has one of the highest illiteracy rates in the world and the second largest out of school population – 5.1 million children – after Nigeria. Education is the basic foundation and requirement for the progress of any society. In Pakistan, the education sector is in decline. Shortage of teachers and poorly-equipped laboratories have resulted in the outdated curriculum that has little relevance to present day needs. Education in Pakistan is overseen by the Federal Ministry of Education and the provincial governments, whereas the federal government mostly assists in curriculum development, accreditation and in the financing of research and development.

The constitution of Pakistan obligates the state to provide free and compulsory quality education to children of the age group three to 16 years. The education sector should be treated as a special sector by immunising budgetary allocations for it from fiscal stresses and political and economic instabilities. Allocations for education should not be affected by squeezed fiscal space or surge in military expenditure or debts. I urge the government to devise comprehensive and constructive education policy as soon as possible.

Engr Mansoor Ahmed

Faisalabad