THE distressing state of education in Pakistan has once more been cast into the spotlight. The first meeting of the Education Task Force was held on Wednesday. It found enormous challenges to be countered. Despite multiple efforts by the government and international partners, the figures remain grim. There are 25m children still out of school, while our literacy rate stands at an abysmal 60pc. The government has now proposed setting up a Rs75bn fund to address the crisis of out-of-school children and focus on improving teacher training and technical education. The goal to reach a 90pc literacy rate by 2030 and bring the majority of these children into the education system is ambitious and commendable. Yet, these measures alone are not enough to tackle the scale of the problem.

Several gaps remain unaddressed. Firstly, while the government’s focus on technical and vocational education is a step in the right direction, the quality of basic education remains inadequate. Children need more than enrolment — they need access to quality education that equips them with critical thinking skills and modern technological competencies. The lack of proper infrastructure, such as electricity in schools and adequate teacher-student ratios, hinders any meaningful progress. Secondly, the devolution of education to the provinces following the 18th Amendment has created disparities between regions. What is needed is stronger coordination between the federal and provincial governments to ensure uniform progress across the country. Moreover, addressing socioeconomic barriers that keep children out of school, such as poverty and gender inequality, must become a central part of the government’s education strategy. Without sustained investment and innovative solutions, Pakistan risks falling further behind on its educational goals. The time for rhetoric has passed. Pakistan needs actionable, well-researched plans that not only address immediate challenges but also build a resilient, forward-thinking education system, which is capable of preparing its youth for the demands of the modern world.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2024