Private schools’ dropout rates escalate

For students in any developing country, access to good quality education is the gateway to future success, however as skyrocketing inflation compels some parents to withdraw children from private schools and others to involve them in child labour, the career prospects of countless youth have been laid to rest.

With peaking inflation, endemic unemployment and meagre salaries complicating the provision of bare necessities like food, shelter, transport and electricity for numerous families across the country, quality education has become a luxury for parents across Karachi, who are no longer able to afford exorbitant fee vouchers, pricey textbooks and elaborate uniforms and are hence increasingly shifting their children from private schools to government schools.

Ambreen, a widow and mother of five children from the Musa Colony, had to withdraw her children from a private school since the prevailing rate of inflation coupled with her measly paycheck had overburdened her household finances. “Therefore, I had to shift two of my older sons to a government school. After school, the boys work at a motorcycle manufacturing shop for a daily wage of Rs200 to Rs300,” shared Ambreen, who acknowledged the difficulty her children were facing as they juggled work with studies, but still felt that skills training was mandatory alongside schooling.

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Similar to Ambreens’ sons, Haris, a ninth grader too was moved from a private school to a government school after his father could not afford to pay his hefty tuition fee amidst rising expenditures. “After school, I work as a welder for which I earn Rs400 daily. Once I get done with work at around 9pm, I attend a coaching center for studying,” said Haris.

While some like Ambreen’s children and Haris were fortunate enough to still be attending school after the wave of inflation, others like 11-year-old Omar, and 12-year-old Shahzaib were withdrawn from school by their families, who could not afford education for their children at a time when putting food on the table had become a challenge. “Upon leaving school, I started working at a car repair shop for a wage of Rs200,” informed Omar, who had to give up his education in order to support his family of eight.

“While some parents are withdrawing their children from school to improve finances others are cognizant of the fact that sending a child to a government school is better than not educating them at all,” highlighted Dr Muhammad Memon, an education expert and former chairman of the Hyderabad Board.

Dr Memon’s judgment is supported by data from the Directorate of Schools Education which indicates an approximately 2 per cent rise in government school enrollment in Karachi during the past one year, with 404,521 students attending public schools this year in comparison with 395,522 students enrolled in public schools during the preceding year.

According to Tariq Shah, President of the All-Private Schools Association, parents are moving their children to government schools primarily because they allow parents to evade the hefty tuition, textbook, and examination fee that is characteristic of private schools.

Read: Parents reel under rising educational expenses

Seconding Shah, Haider Ali, President of the All-Private Schools and Colleges Association, confirmed the trend of inflation related dropouts in private schools. “At least 150 students have dropped out of my school during the last three months,” disclosed Ali, who insisted that a similar situation exists across other private educational institutions.

However, Muhammad Faisal, a social leader feels that public schools are ill-equipped to deal with the growing influx of students.

“The public and private education sectors will have to work together in order to facilitate students. Night tuition centers must also be set up for children involved in paid work during the day,” opined Faisal.

Speaking to The Express Tribune on the matter, Shereen Narejo, the Secretary of School Education, said,” This year the total enrollment in Sindh has increased from 4.5 million to around 4.8 million. We currently have no information about the number of students who have transferred from private to government schools.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2023.