Need to prioritise

A recent report issued by the National Education Management Information System suggests that 22.6 million children are out of school in Pakistan. Despite the constitutional mandate, the state has failed to fulfil its promise of universal education. At least 44 percent of the children in the country between ages of five and 16 years are still out of school in a country where over a     quarter of its population is less than 16 years old.

Further, the report indicated a glaring dearth of infrastructural facilities as well as staff members in majority of public sector primary schools. Apart from lofty pledges and seemingly achievable goals in public speeches, the federal as well as provincial governments have not yet succeeded in upholding their commitments to bringing a lasting change in the education sector. Some important steps have been taken in recent years like the increase in spending since the devolution of power under the 18th Amendment. Subsequently most provinces doubled their educational budgets. Pakistan spends two percent of its GDP on education compared to India which spends 3.3 percent and Nepal which spends 4.7 percent. This fact alone tells us that provision of quality education is not the top priority of the state.     Decentralisation of education services and involvement of communities and parents would be vital to achieve the target of universal primary education.

Qazi Jamshed Alam Siddiqui

Lahore