Finding A Way Out Of Pakistan’s Education Quagmire

Poor Pakistani parents want their children to attend school, but the quality of public schools prevents them from doing so.

A significant obstacle has been the absence of excellent educational facilities and schools. This is attributed to the nation's 1973 nationalization policy, which harmed the infrastructure of government schools.

“Government schools are closing down. They are in a state of disrepair. Teachers don’t go to the schools. There are no books, no furniture, or even toilets. Our system's fundamental flaw is that no one is held accountable. Why do we place blame on low-income students who are being treated so badly in this situation?

The Pakistan Education Statistics from 2015 to 2016 revealed that 44% of children between the ages of five and sixteen were not attending school. According to the data, 14% of primary schools in the country only had one classroom and 21% were run by a single teacher. It is clear that our education system is not working as it should. The government has failed to provide quality education to its students, and they are not receiving an adequate education to succeed.

Schools with only one room are not ideal, but they are better than having no room at all. One room can be made into two if two teachers share it, but there will always be some children who do not get enough attention or who cannot focus because their teachers are not available for them at all times.

Without power or water, classrooms are often hot and humid, which affects student performance and makes them more likely to skip classes altogether. In addition to that, without electricity, there is no way for teachers or parents to use technology such as laptops or tablets during class time which would help improve learning outcomes for students as well as make it easier for teachers and parents alike! In terms of infrastructure issues; 4 out of 10 public sector primary schools were operating without electricity, and 28% did not have toilets.

All this is an inevitable consequence of the neglect of education over decades and chronic underspending by successive governments on education. This is the lowest in South Asia at less than 2% of GDP today. Pakistan ranks fifth among nations with the lowest education expenditures.

Pakistan will face a demographic disaster among other challenges unless this situation is changed. The nation's working-age populace is supposed to twofold in the following twenty years. Young people are entering the workforce at a rapid rate, but many do not possess the necessary skills or education to succeed.

These young people risk living in poverty for the rest of their lives if they don't have any work experience or money. They migrate to other nations, where it is likely that they will have difficulty locating employment and a better life. Their predicament also has significant repercussions for global and national businesses looking to expand or invest in economically promising frontier markets. National economies are hampered by prolonged youth unemployment, and businesses are hampered in their ability to achieve higher growth, better profits, and a greater number of jobs due to a lack of literate and skilled young workers.

These young people will be jobless and without a future, if education is not expanded in scope and quality. The nation will suffer serious social and economic consequences if the demographic transition fails.