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63% of Pakistan's Youth Never Attended School, Census Reveals Crisis

Pakistan's Census 2023 reveals a profound education crisis, with 63% of the youth population having never received formal schooling. The situation is drastically worse for young women, with nearly three-quarters never enrolling in school compared to half of young men. A linked study identifies financial hardship as the top reason for dropping out, compounded by household duties, unsafe travel, and social norms, especially for girls. The lack of education leads to exclusion from decent work, healthcare, and civic participation, trapping millions in a cycle of poverty.

Key Points: Pakistan's Youth Education Crisis: 63% Never Went to School

  • 63% of youth never attended school
  • 74% of young women never enrolled
  • Financial hardship is primary cause
  • Early marriage restricts girls' access
  • Over 90% lack vocational training
3 min read

63 pc Pakistan's youth never went to school: Data

Census 2023 data shows 63% of Pakistan's youth have no formal education, with severe gender disparities and lifelong societal exclusion.

"nearly three out of four females aged 15 to 29 never having enrolled in school - Dawn report"

New Delhi, Jan 8

A staggering 63 per cent of Pakistan's youth population and 23 per cent of adolescents have never received any formal education -- highlighting a deep and persistent crisis that continues to push millions of young people to the margins of society, according to the country's Census 2023 data, media reports said.

The figures show that out-of-school adolescents and youth, often referred to as OOSAY, remain one of the most neglected groups in policy planning.

The situation is even more alarming for women, with nearly three out of four females aged 15 to 29 never having enrolled in school, compared to around half of men, Dawn reported.

Experts say these numbers reflect not just gaps in education, but lifelong exclusion from decent work, healthcare and meaningful participation in society, as per the report.

A recent needs assessment conducted by Sustainable Development Policy Institute in collaboration with UNFPA examined the challenges faced by OOSAY in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.

The study aimed to understand what kind of support these young people themselves believe they need to re-enter education, employment, health services and civic life.

The findings show that financial hardship is the biggest reason young people are pushed out of school, affecting nearly three-quarters of respondents.

These problems are made worse by household responsibilities, work pressure, lack of nearby schools, long travel distances, unsafe transport and social norms, especially for girls.

Early marriage and fear of harassment further restrict girls' access to education. The impact of being out of school is sharply different for boys and girls.

Many boys are forced into early, physically demanding and low-paid labour to support their families.

Nearly two-thirds of male respondents said they felt strong pressure to earn from a young age.

Girls, on the other hand, are burdened with unpaid domestic and caregiving work. The study found that over 85 per cent of female OOSAY spend most of their day doing household chores, leaving little or no time for education or paid work.

Early marriage is common, with the median marriage age for girls in the study found to be 18 years.

Lack of education continues to hurt employment prospects. Almost three-quarters of OOSAY reported having no access to paid work, including an overwhelming majority of women.

Those who do work are mostly in unstable and informal jobs, often earning less than Rs25,000 a month despite working long hours.

Many rely on daily wages with no job security, safety measures or chances to learn useful skills.

The study also highlighted the absence of alternative learning options. More than 90 per cent of respondents said they had never joined any vocational or skills training programme.

Health outcomes are equally worrying. Many OOSAY suffer from malnutrition, chronic pain and mental health issues, but cannot access proper healthcare due to cost, mobility issues and lack of awareness.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

A
Arjun K
While the data is shocking, we shouldn't view this with any sense of superiority. Many rural and tribal areas in India also struggle with dropout rates, especially among girls. The root cause is the same: poverty. When a family is struggling to eat, school fees and lost labour from a child become unaffordable luxuries. This is a human development issue, not a political one.
R
Rohit P
The economic impact is devastating. An uneducated youth population is a massive drag on any country's potential. How can you build a modern economy or attract investment with these numbers? They're losing an entire generation. Boys forced into manual labour at 12, girls married at 18... it's a cycle of poverty that's very hard to break. 😔
S
Sarah B
The lack of vocational training is a critical missing piece. Not every child needs to go to university, but everyone needs skills to earn a living. 90% never had any training? That's a policy failure. India's ITIs and skill mission programs, while not perfect, at least try to address this gap. Hope they can set up similar practical initiatives.
V
Vikram M
Respectfully, the article mentions "social norms" but doesn't delve deep enough. In many conservative societies, including parts of India, educating a girl is seen as less important than getting her married. Changing this mindset is the biggest battle. You can build schools, but if parents don't send their daughters, it's pointless. Community engagement is key.
K
Karthik V
The health outcomes mentioned are the silent crisis. Malnutrition and chronic pain in the young will have lifelong

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