26 Million Children Out of School: PCCR Report

News Desk 

Islamabad: The Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights (PCCR) has concluded its nationwide initiative aimed at tackling Pakistan’s education crisis, marked by the alarming figure of over 26 million out-of-school children (OOSC). 

The initiative culminated with a high-level closing ceremony held at the Speaker’s Banquet Hall, National Assembly of Pakistan, where lawmakers, civil society representatives, and education experts gathered to chart a unified path forward.

During the event, PCCR unveiled its flagship report titled “Parliamentary Engagement for National Strategy on Education Emergency.” Developed through a series of provincial consultations, dialogues, and in-depth research, the report provides actionable, context-specific policy recommendations to address the root causes of the OOSC crisis. 

It is intended to serve as a comprehensive roadmap for federal and provincial coordination toward equitable and quality education for all children.

Dr Nikhat Shakeel Khan, Convener of PCCR, stressed the urgency of the situation, describing the education crisis as a national emergency that demands coordinated legislative, policy, and community action. “This report is a milestone in our parliamentary commitment to every child’s right to education,” she stated. “We must move from dialogue to action.”

The report findings highlight multiple interlinked barriers to education including poverty, child labour, gender disparity, lack of infrastructure, and ineffective enforcement of Article 25-A, which guarantees free and compulsory education for children aged 5 to 16.

Report Findings

Mujtaba Zaidi of Anthro Insights presented insights from the report, emphasizing the need for strategic, multi-sectoral interventions to tackle socio-economic, environmental, and institutional obstacles.

He underlined the role of civil society in monitoring and supporting the implementation of Article 25-A.

MNA Zahra Wadood Fatemi addressed how child labour, driven by household poverty, is a critical driver of school dropouts. She called for vocational training programs for women as a sustainable approach to reduce child labour and increase girls’ school enrolment.

MNA Asia Naz Tanoli advocated for the elimination of ghost schools and proposed mandatory psychological evaluations for teachers to ensure mental well-being and quality education.

Parliamentary Secretary Farah Naz Akbar spoke on the federal government’s declaration of a National Education Emergency, noting that it marks a critical shift in prioritizing education. She shared the Ministry’s new strategies including data-driven policymaking and improved coordination with provincial departments.

MNA Kiran Haider brought attention to the severe lack of basic facilities in schools in Balochistan, especially for girls, calling for urgent infrastructure investments to address sanitation and water access issues.

MPA Sarah Ahmed, Convenor of the Punjab Child Rights Caucus, addressed the increased vulnerability of OOSC to abuse and labour, while highlighting Punjab’s first child abuse prevention campaign and the need for strong legal enforcement.

MNA Syeda Shehla Raza proposed linking conditional cash transfer programs like the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) and Waseela-e-Taleem with school attendance to incentivize enrolment and retention.

MNA Sofia Saeed Shah emphasized the importance of community-based strategies to integrate underprivileged children into the education system and reduce the OOSC rate.

State Minister for Education, Wajiha Qamar, praised the PCCR’s leadership and reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to inclusive educational reforms. She announced several new initiatives including the introduction of school meal programs, digital learning platforms, and skill-based “Matric-Tech” and “Middle-Tech” education streams.

In her concluding remarks, Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan thanked Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq for institutionalizing child rights caucuses in the provinces and Federal Minister Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui for technical input in drafting the report. She urged all stakeholders to use the report as a foundation for sustainable education reforms.

Commemorative shields were awarded to participants, including State Minister Wajiha Qamar, for their ongoing contributions to promoting child rights and addressing Pakistan’s education challenges.

The initiative and report are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping national policy and mobilizing political will to bring every Pakistani child into the fold of education.