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Pakistan's Education Crisis Becomes Its Most Severe Economic Vulnerability

A report highlights that Pakistan's education crisis is its most severe economic vulnerability, with a literacy rate of 63% far below the South Asian average. About 28% of school-age children, roughly 20 million, remain out of school despite official declarations of an emergency. The crisis is marked by deep inequality, with rural girls in provinces like Sindh and Balochistan facing the highest levels of exclusion. The editorial argues that an undereducated workforce prevents the establishment of high-skilled industries, crippling long-term economic prospects.

Key Points: Pakistan's Literacy Crisis: A Severe Economic Threat

  • 63% literacy rate is 15 points below regional average
  • 20 million school-age children are out of school
  • Rural girls in Sindh and Balochistan face highest exclusion
  • System failing at first point of access for 20% of kids
  • Undereducated workforce blocks high-skilled industries
3 min read

Pakistan's education crisis becoming its most severe economic vulnerability: Report

Report ranks Pakistan last in South Asia literacy, with 20 million children out of school, calling it the nation's biggest economic vulnerability.

"This is not just an education crisis, but arguably our most severe economic vulnerability. - The Express Tribune editorial"

Islamabad, Feb 8

Pakistan has been ranked last in South Asia's literacy rating, as per recent data, and its education crisis has become its most severe economic vulnerability, according to a report in the Pakistani media.

"A Free and Fair Election Network report shows Pakistan has climbed to a 63 per cent literacy rate, which is a staggering 15 percentage points below the regional average of 78 per cent. In today's competitive global economy, no nation can hope to thrive with an undereducated workforce. This is not just an education crisis, but arguably our most severe economic vulnerability," an editorial in Pakistani daily The Express Tribune stated.

According to the report, Pakistan could get rid of terrorism tomorrow; however, it would still not be able to set up high-skilled industries, as every third person in the country is illiterate.

"We have suffered under authoritarian dictatorships, enlightened moderation, controlled democracy, crony capitalism and Islamic socialism, all promising successes that never came, because even though the exact reasons for failures in each case are unique, all failed to educate a workforce for future success," the editorial said.

Earlier, a report revealed that about 28 per cent of school-age children in Pakistan -- roughly 20 million -- remain out of school, exposing structural failures that cannot be fixed by political slogans.

"The latest findings of the Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES) offer a sobering reality check on Pakistan's education and human development trajectory. Despite repeated official declarations of an 'education emergency,' 28 per cent of school-age children - roughly 20 million - remain out of school," an editorial in Pakistan-based 'Business Recorder' stated.

"While this represents a numerical decline from the 25.3 million reported in 2019, progress over six years has been painfully slow and deeply uneven, exposing structural failures that political slogans alone cannot fix," it added.

The survey has also showcased the continuity of inequality. Rural girls, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan, continue to face exclusion. In Pakistan, one in four boys remains out of school, while nearly one in three girls remains out of school.

This disparity in gender demonstrates entrenched social norms, widespread poverty, and weak public provisioning of education. Economic pressure pushes many boys to work at a young age, while girls are unable to study due to family restrictions, the perceived irrelevance of schooling, or financial problems, according to the editorial. The 20 per cent of children who never enrolled in school indicates that the system is failing at the very first point of access, the editorial highlighted.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The gender disparity is heartbreaking. One in three girls out of school? This isn't just an economic issue, it's a massive human rights failure. Families need to see the value in educating daughters. Education is the real empowerment.
V
Vikram M
The report is right. You can't build a modern economy with a 63% literacy rate. They're 15 points below the regional average! It shows where misplaced priorities for decades lead. India's literacy drive had its struggles too, but at least we kept pushing. This should be a wake-up call.
S
Sarah B
As an outsider living here, it's clear that without fixing education, no amount of foreign aid will create lasting change. The cycle of poverty and lack of opportunity will just continue. The focus needs to be on the 20 million children currently left behind.
R
Rohit P
It's easy for us to comment, but we must also look inward. While our stats are better, we still have major dropout rates, especially among girls in rural areas. Let's use this as a reminder to strengthen our own systems. Jai Hind.
K
Karthik V
"Political slogans alone cannot fix" – that line hits hard. So true. Every government announces big schemes, but on-ground implementation is weak. You need teacher training, infrastructure, and changing deep-rooted social attitudes. A long road ahead for them.
N

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