Call to increase public spending on education

Report reveals education outlay in Pakistan remains alarmingly low

ISLAMABAD:

In a significant step towards enhancing the country's education system, the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training has formally approved the "Public Financing in Education Report 2022-23."

This report, prepared by the Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE), provides an in-depth analysis of education financing over the last four years and highlights critical findings that signal urgent areas for reform.

Key findings of the report showed that public spending on education in Pakistan remains alarmingly low, with a decrease from 1.7% to 1.5% of GDP in the 2022-23 fiscal year, which is far below the international benchmark of 4% recommended by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report also underscored imbalances in budget allocation, with a dominant share of 88% going to recurring expenses such as salaries, leaving only 12% for the much-needed development of educational infrastructure.

The high-level meeting, chaired by Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training (MoFE&PT) Federal Secretary, Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, included key stakeholders such as the Additional Secretary, Senior Joint Secretary, Dr M Shahahid Soroya, DG PIE and members of the World Bank team. During the meeting, participants discussed the urgent need to address the underfunding of primary and secondary education, particularly in provinces like K-P and Balochistan, and the overall lack of focus on non-formal education aimed at reducing the out-of-school children (OOSC) population, which currently stands at 26.2 million.

The report calls for a strategic increase in public education funding to at least 4% of GDP, emphasising that a balanced approach between recurring and development expenditures is essential for modernising the education sector.

After a detailed review, the Secretary of Education expressed his commitment to aligning Pakistan's education financing with international standards and praised the efforts of the PIE and other stakeholders in identifying key areas for reform.