A looming catastrophe

As many as 28 million children in Pakistan are currently not attending school

As many as 28 million children in Pakistan are currently not attending school. It’s evident that successive governments have fallen short of fulfilling their promises to address this issue. Perhaps, the political leadership needs to realise that this problem cannot be resolved in isolation, as it is rooted in broader social issues, including high poverty and unemployment rates. Government officials dispute this figure, claiming that the number of out-of-school children still stands at 22.8 million. However, even that number should be cause for alarm and prompt an emergency response.

The Covid-19 pandemic, along with last year’s super floods and ongoing economic turmoil, has forced many families to withdraw their children from school. Simultaneously, child labour has grown significantly in the last three years. Families struggling to make ends meet often see little purpose in educating their children, especially when there are few promising employment opportunities. Rather than implementing policies to encourage children to return to school, the caretaker Punjab government has controversially decided to privatise government schools. Private schools in Pakistan are known for charging high fees. If this decision is implemented, thousands of students will be forced out of education and those who remain will receive poor-quality education.

The worsening education crisis is leading to an increase in human trafficking, child marriages and other social ills. Relevant stakeholders must move beyond mere rhetoric and invest in education while addressing corruption and mismanagement in government bodies to tackle this formidable crisis effectively. Besides incentivising low-income families to send their children to schools, NGOs should be called upon to enhance education outreach and accessibility. Our future generations should not have to suffer due to the incompetence and apathy of those in charge. We need to equip our future nation builders with the knowledge and skills needed to sustain the country; otherwise, the country will descend into further chaos.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22nd, 2023.

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