The Pakistan Institute of Education has released a report on the enrollment of children in educational institutions, revealing positive trends despite challenges, including the impact of Covid-19. The report indicates that the enrollment of children in educational institutions has increased by 12.28 million from 2017 to 2022, with the number rising from 28.69 million in 2017 to 40.97 million in 2022.
Key findings from the report include a decrease in the rate of out-of-school children from 44% to 39%, and a notable increase in the continuing education rate, reaching 77%. The report also highlights improvements in facilities, such as access to clean drinking water, toilets, four walls, and electricity in educational institutions.
The total number of educational institutions in the country is reported as 313,418, comprising public and private schools, religious madrasahs, non-formal basic education institutions, education foundations, technical and vocational institutes, degree colleges, universities, and teacher training institutions. Of these, 73% are formal schools from primary to higher secondary level.
At the provincial level, the report provides insights into new entrants in populated areas up to the last grade in primary education and the middle class. It also emphasizes efforts to achieve international standards, aiming for a class size of 30 children. The report indicates progress, with the rate of children in a class decreasing from 39 to 37 in 2021-22.
The report underscores the importance of ongoing initiatives to enhance educational infrastructure and access, contributing to positive developments in the education sector.
