10m kids in Punjab out of school

Punjab accounts for 10 million of the estimated 26 million out of school children in the country, according to a UNICEF report. The report released recently stated that Pakistan had one of the world's highest ratios of out-of-school children. Thousands of the children left out of school are believed to be serving in workshops and factories.

The report revealed that only 66 per cent of children in the province were able to complete primary education. Thus one of every three children died not study up to the 5th grade. Another alarming finding of the report is that only 12% of the children aged seven to 14 possess basic mathematical skills, a figure significantly lower than the 22% average found in lower-middle-income countries globally. Education experts warn that these numbers highlight a severe crisis in the quality and performance of the country's education system. They say the report has exposed the claims of the government regarding its efforts to bring back to education the out-of-school children.

A senior official of the Punjab School Education Department said, "The report states that approximately 26 million children are currently out of school in Pakistan and this is a number greater than the entire population of countries like Sri Lanka. Of these, 10 million belong to Punjab, the most populous province in the country."

The statistics quoted in the report also showed that some elements were misleading the Punjab government over the issue of out-of-school children in the province, the official claimed.

According to sources, fake data entries of thousands of children had been detected in the province recently. School administrations were allegedly involved in recording fake admission data and the education ministry had taken notice of the matter.

The report also highlights deep-rooted disparities in the distribution of educational resources. Government schools receive nearly 3.8 times more funding per student compared to private institutions operating under the Punjab Education Foundation (PEF).

On the other hand, teachers' representative argue that policies of the government are widening the gap in educational outcomes and reinforcing class-based divisions within the sector.

The report also highlighted rapid population growth, urging immediate reforms to restore balance and equity in education and calling the situation a threat to the country's future stability and progress.

"In past, several programmes were launched in the province to increase the literacy ratio, including universal primary enrollment and schools for the poor, but the actual problem is the increase in the population," said Rana Liaqat Ali, Secretary General of the Punjab Teachers Union.

He said the authorities were not constructing new schools and were outsourcing existing institutions.

"A low literacy ratio in the country, including the province, is a major problem and our policymakers should seriously think about the issue of out-of-school children," he added.