KARACHI:
Our country is facing an unprecedented educational emergency right now. Over 26 million children are out of school, which is one of the largest out-of-school population of children globally. Furthermore, for millions of children who are currently enrolled in schools, foundational literacy and numeracy skills remain out of reach due to poor learning outcomes.
This persistent crisis is due to structural issues like poor infrastructure, severe teacher shortages and poverty-driven child labour. If left unaddressed it will trap countless generations in poverty and will be a major hurdle in national economic growth. Overcoming this requires urgent federal and provincial action – reallocating budgets to repair schools; launching community enrollment drives with stipend; and expanding flexible non-formal learning centres for older out-of-school children.
Under Article 25-A access to basic education is not only a constitutional fundamental right of every child, but it is also the first condition for national progress and economic stability. We cannot build a prosperous future while leaving millions of our children behind without basic education. The educational authorities must pay urgent attention to this important matter.
Minahil Naveed
Hafizabad
