An alarming proportion of 26.20 million children are out of schook in Pakistan

Alarming Number of Out-of-School Children Revealed in Pakistan Education Statistics

A recent analysis of Pakistan's education statistics for the academic year 2021-22 has unveiled a staggering revelation regarding the number of Out-of-School Children (OOSC), which has reached an alarming proportion of 26.20 million.

Released today in a preliminary teaser, the findings underscore the critical state of education accessibility in the country. The breakdown by provinces reveals the following numbers of out-of-school children: Punjab (11.73 million), Sindh (7.63 million), KPK (3.63 million), Balochistan (3.13 million), and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) with 0.08 million out-of-school students.

Furthermore, 39% of children in the school-going age group are currently out of school, indicating a persistent challenge in ensuring universal education. Balochistan stands out with the highest percentage, where a staggering 65% of children are out of school, while ICT reports the lowest percentage. In comparison among the major provinces, KPK fares better with a 30% out-of-school rate. Despite a decrease in the percentage of out-of-school children from 44% in 2016-17 to 39% in 2021-22, the absolute number has surged from 22.02 million to 26.21 million during the same period. This increase is primarily attributed to the population growth rate outpacing the decrease in out-of-school children.

At the higher secondary level, a disconcerting 60% of children are out of school in 2021-22. Further analysis reveals 44%, 30%, and 36% out-of-school rates at high, middle, and primary levels respectively.

A substantial portion of the out-of-school children, totaling 10.77 million, is at the primary level, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted interventions. Economic disparities play a significant role in educational access, with children from the poorest quintile facing the highest disadvantage, evident across all education levels.

Detailed insights into economic disparities and additional statistics will be unveiled during a comprehensive release scheduled for Monday in PIE Islamabad.