It is a sad truth that education in Pakistan is considered the least important sector.
KARACHI: This is in reference to Mumtaz Ali Shah’s article of May 21 titled “Primary education in rural areas”. It is a sad truth that education in Pakistan is considered the least important sector, as far as budgetary allocations are concerned. From 2002 to 2006, according to official statistics, the literacy rate increased from 45 per cent to 54 per cent and during the same period the net primary enrolment rate increased from 42 per cent to 52 per cent. However, Pakistan’s participation rates remain the lowest in South Asia and there are wide male-female, inter-regional and rural-urban disparities in literacy. School dropout rates are high, especially, at the secondary level, and a mere 30 per cent of the country’s children receive secondary education. Only 19 per cent attend upper-secondary schools.
If we want Pakistan to progress, we have to seriously devote time and resources to developing our education system and for this primary schools in rural areas should be accorded a special focus.
Tabinda Tahir Hussein
Bahria University
Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2011.
