ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has witnessed a concerning surge in the number of out-of-school children that has exceeded 26 million in the past five years, according to a report released on Sunday, which highlights a dire state of access to education in the South Asian country.
The count has risen from 22.02 million out-of-school children in the country in 2016-17, the Pakistan Institute of Education, a subsidiary of the Pakistani education ministry, said in the Pakistan Education Statistics Report for 2021-2022.
The number accounts for 39 percent of all children of school-going age in the South Asian country, according to the report, which is issued after every five years. While there has been an increase in the actual number of out-of-school children, their percentage has dropped by 5 percent percent from 44 percent in 2016-17.
“In Pakistan, 26.2 million children are deprived of going to school,” it said, adding that of these out-of-school children, 11.73 million were in Punjab, 7.63 million in Sindh, 3.63 million in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and 3.13 million in Balochistan.
Experts identify population growth, lack of localized strategies, and economic issues as the main causes behind the increase in the number of out-of-school children in the country.
“Despite a marginal improvement in school enrolment, the overall increase in population has outpaced this improvement, resulting in a rise in the absolute number of out-of-school children,” Arshad Mirza, a former federal education secretary, told Arab News.
“Education, being a provincial subject, warrants heightened emphasis, with financial sharing among provinces based on enrolment data to serve as both an incentive and a potential quick fix.”
Yasir Dil, an education advocacy specialist, attributed this staggering number of out-of-school children to poverty and economic hardships that forced many families to prioritize work over education for their children.
“Lack of adequate and equitable financing for education resulted in insufficient and unequal provision of schools, teachers, learning materials and infrastructure, along with socio-cultural barriers and norms that discourage or prevent girls, children with disabilities, ethnic and religious minorities, and other disadvantaged groups from attending school,” he told Arab News.
To address these challenges, Dil said, a comprehensive and coordinated advocacy strategy was needed at the government, private and individual levels. “At the government level, there is a need to increase and allocate more resources for education, especially for the most underserved areas and populations,” he said.
At the private level, there was a potential to leverage the role of non-state actors, such as civil society organizations, private schools, media, and the corporate sector, in providing alternative and complementary education opportunities, raising awareness, mobilizing public support, and holding the government accountable for its commitments, according to Dil.
Dr. Muhammad Waqas Kaleem, a faculty member at the Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad, said the federal and provincial governments should formulate localized strategies, tailored to the unique traditions, culture and issues of each area, to enhance the literacy rate and decrease the number of out-of-school children.
“The issues causing out-of-school children in Balochistan are different from Punjab, similarly [they are] different from each other in other areas,” he told Arab News. “So, the strategy should be area-specific so that it can address real issues.”
Pakistan out-of-school children exceed 26 million amid population growth, economic hardships
https://arab.news/27req
Pakistan out-of-school children exceed 26 million amid population growth, economic hardships
- Of them, 11.73 mln are in Punjab, 7.63 mln in Sindh, 3.63 mln in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 3.13 mln in Balochistan
- Education experts call for targeted strategies to meet local challenges in order to increase enrolment in schools
Pakistan orders four-day workweek, shuts schools to save fuel amid Middle East oil crisis
- The development comes as ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iran disrupt oil supplies in Strait of Hormuz, push prices past $119 a barrel
- Islamabad bans government purchases, cuts fuel allocation for vehicles as well as workforce in public and private offices by 50 percent
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced austerity measures, including a four-day work week, cuts in government expenditures and closure of schools, to offset the impact of rising global oil prices due to an ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Global fuel supply lines have been disrupted in the Strait of Hormuz, which supplies nearly a fourth of world oil consumption, after Tehran blocked it following United States-Israeli strikes on Iran and counterattacks against US interests in the Gulf region.
Oil prices surged more than 25 percent globally on Monday to $119.50 a barrel, the highest levels since mid-2022, as some major producers cut supplies and fears of prolonged shipping disruptions gripped the market due to the expanding US-Israeli war with Iran.
In his televised address on Sunday night, Sharif said global oil prices were expected to rise again in the coming days but vowed not to let the people bear their brunt, announcing austerity measures to lessen the impact of fuel price hikes.
“Fifty percent staff in public and private entities will work from home,” he announced, adding this would not be applicable to essential services. “Offices will remain open for four days a week. One-day additional off is being given to conserve oil, but it would not be applicable to banks.”
Sharif didn’t specify working days of the week and the government was likely to issue a notification in this regard.
He said a decrease of 50 percent was being made in fuel allocation for government vehicles immediately for the next two months, but they would not include ambulances and public buses.
“Cabinet members, advisers and special assistants will not draw salaries for the next two months, 25 percent salaries of parliamentarians are being deducted, two-day salaries of Grade 20 and above officers, or those who are paid Rs300,000 ($1,067) a month, are being deducted for public relief,” he said.
Similarly, there will be 20 percent reduction in public department expenses and a complete ban on the purchase of cars, furniture, air conditioners and other goods, according to the prime minister.
Foreign trips of ministers and other government officials will also be banned along with government dinners and iftar buffets, while teleconferences and online meetings will be given priority.
“All schools will be off for two weeks, starting from the end of this week, and all higher education institutions should immediately begin online classes,” he said.
Sharif’s comments were aired hours after Pakistani authorities said the country had “comfortable levels” of petroleum stocks and the supply chains were functioning smoothly, despite intensifying Middle East conflict.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said three oil shipments were due to reach Pakistan this week, state media reported.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Navy (PN) launched ‘Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr’ to safeguard national energy shipments, the Pakistani military said on Monday, amid disruptions to critical sea lanes due to the conflict.
The navy is conducting escort operations in close coordination with the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing. It is fully cognizant of the prevailing maritime situation and is actively monitoring and controlling the movement of merchant vessels to ensure their safe and secure transit.
“With approximately 90 percent of Pakistan’s trade conducted via sea, the operation aims to ensure that vital sea routes remain safe, secure, and uninterrupted,” the ISPR said on Monday. “Currently, PN ships are escorting 2 x Merchant Vessels, one of which is scheduled to arrive Karachi today.”
