The caretaker Federal Education Minister, Madad Ali Sindhi, has raised concerns about the increasing number of out-of-school children in Pakistan. In a letter addressed to the Punjab Education Minister, Sindhi disclosed that the count of children not enrolled in school has surged to 28 million, surpassing the global record for the highest percentage of out-of-school children.

This figure represents a significant increase from the previous estimates, which indicated 22 million out-of-school children. In 2021, the cabinet reported that 18.7 million children were not attending school, revealing a drastic rise in the current scenario.

The data highlights that Pakistan now holds the unfortunate distinction of having the highest percentage of out-of-school children globally. The caretaker Federal Education Minister’s letter urged all provincial education ministers to collaboratively develop a concise working document. This document should encompass relevant statistics, identification of administrative and financial obstacles, and strong recommendations for a sustainable solution to address the out-of-school children issue.

Sources close to the development revealed that currently, only 1.7 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is allocated to education. However, for substantial improvements in the education sector, it is recommended that the government increase this allocation to at least 4 percent.

Key Points:

1. Concerns Raised: The caretaker Federal Education Minister expressed concerns about the surge in the number of out-of-school children in Pakistan.

2. Current Count: The latest data reveals that the count of out-of-school children has risen to 28 million, surpassing previous estimates.

3. Global Record: Pakistan now holds the unfortunate distinction of having the highest percentage of out-of-school children globally.

4. Call for Collaboration: The letter urged provincial education ministers to collaborate on developing a concise working document addressing statistics, obstacles, and recommendations for a lasting solution.

5. Drastic Increase: The current figure of 28 million out-of-school children represents a significant increase from previous estimates of 22 million and 18.7 million in 2021.

6. Budget Allocation: Currently, only 1.7 percent of the country’s GDP is allocated to education, and recommendations suggest increasing this to at least 4 percent for substantial improvements.