NewKerala.com

Pakistan's School Cost Crisis: Families Protest Soaring Fees, Textbook Shortages

As the new academic year begins, Pakistani families are grappling with soaring education expenses, including a 40% shortage of new textbooks in the market. The cost to enroll a single child can reach PKR 30,000, covering fees, uniforms, shoes, bags, and stationery. This financial burden exacerbates an existing crisis where 28% of children aged 5-16 are out of school, with girls disproportionately affected at a 34% non-enrollment rate. The challenges are most acute in rural areas, where structural barriers, financial pressure, and social expectations further limit educational access, especially for girls.

Key Points: Rising School Costs, Textbook Shortage Hit Pakistani Families

  • Single child enrollment costs PKR 20,000-30,000
  • 40% shortage of new textbooks in market
  • 28% of children aged 5-16 are out of school
  • Girls disproportionately impacted with 34% not in school
  • National literacy rate stands at 63%
3 min read

Pakistan: People concerned about rising school expenses, textbook shortage

Pakistani families protest soaring education costs and a 40% textbook shortage as enrollment expenses reach PKR 30,000 per child, worsening access.

"Parents have also alleged that such rising costs are intentional, aimed at making schooling expensive - The Express Tribune"

Islamabad, April 17

As the new academic year starts in Pakistan, people have been buying books for their children amid higher education-related expenses. Families have reported that enrolling a single child in school costs between Pakistani Rupees 20,000 - PKR 30,000, with expenses including first-month fees and purchasing textbooks, notebooks, uniform, shoes and a bag, local media reported.

People in Pakistan have protested against the increasing costs. In addition, 40 per cent shortage of new textbooks is being witnessed in the market this year. Expenses related to school has also increased - uniforms cost around PKR 3,000, cost of school shoes ranges from PKR 2,500 to PKR 5,000 and price of basic quality school bag starts at PKR 1,500, Pakistan's leading daily The Express Tribune reported.

Price for applying plastic cover to a single book, it stated, ranges between PKR 75-PKR 100. Cost of larger notebooks and registers is between PKR 120 to PKR 130. Increasing paper costs have raised the prices of all types of notebooks, registers, textbooks, drawing books, practical copies and other stationery items.

Parents have also alleged that such rising costs are intentional, aimed at making schooling expensive in order to make children from low-income families restricted to basic education, The Express Tribune reported. Families have contended that education and healthcare is free in many parts of the world, however, education in Pakistan has been made inaccessible for the poor.

Last month, a report revealed that nearly 28 per cent of children in Pakistan, aged between 5-16 years, are out of school. Quite alarmingly, girls are disproportionately impacted as 34 per cent of girls are not enrolled in schools in comparison to 22 per cent of boys. These disparities are more seen in rural regions of Pakistan, especially for girls, where exclusion for education is more, pointing to how gender and geography reduce educational access.

Two-thirds of Pakistanis aged 10 years and above have attended school at some point as access to education remains highly unequal in Pakistan, The Express Tribune reported citing the HIES survey by Gallup Pakistan. Pakistan's national literacy rate stands at 63 per cent with male literacy at 73 per cent and female at 52 per cent.

Literacy in urban areas stands at 77 per cent compared to 56 per cent in rural areas. While 68 per cent of children are enrolled in primary school, the numbers reduce sharply at higher levels of education. Only 40 per cent study in middle school and around 30 per cent in matriculation.

This sharp drop in the number of students continuing education in schools highlights the challenges faced by them, especially in rural and underprivileged areas, pointing to structural barriers such as safety concerns, school distance, and rising opportunity costs like children age, especially pronounced for rural girls. According to the report, financial pressure, domestic responsibilities and limited post-primary schooling options contribute to children not continuing education in schools. These challenges further increase for girls due to social expectations and early marriage.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

A
Aman W
PKR 20-30k just to enroll one child? That's a huge burden for an average family. The 40% textbook shortage is a complete failure of planning. While we have our own challenges, India's mid-day meal scheme and free textbooks in many states show that proactive policies can help. Hope their authorities take note.
R
Rahul R
The part about parents alleging it's intentional to restrict poor children is a very serious charge. If true, it's a crime against the nation's future. Education is the only way forward for any society. The drop from 68% in primary to 30% in matriculation is a tragic waste of potential. 😔
S
Sarah B
As an outsider, the urban-rural and gender divides are shocking. 77% vs 56% literacy, and 73% male vs 52% female... these gaps are holding back half the population. The social expectations and early marriage mentioned for girls are deep-rooted issues that need addressing alongside the financial ones.
V
Vikram M
The cost breakdown is eye-opening. Plastic cover for a book at PKR 75-100? When the book itself is expensive? This is where corruption and inefficiency in the supply chain bite the common person. Our hearts go out to the parents struggling with this. No family should have to choose between basics and a child's education.
K
Karthik V
While the situation is dire, I hope this leads to constructive dialogue and action. Blaming any one entity won't help. There needs to be a multi-pronged approach: price control on essentials, investment in public schooling, and community programs to encourage girls' education, especially in rural areas.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50