Parliament Highlights Barriers Keeping Millions Out of School
News Desk
Islamabad: The Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights (PCCR) has sounded the alarm over Pakistan’s escalating education crisis, highlighting the staggering number of 26.3 million out-of-school children (OOSC) during a National Symposium on “National Education Emergency: On Out-of-School Children” held in Islamabad.
Convened by MNA Dr Nikhat Shakeel Khan, the event brought together federal and provincial lawmakers, senior officials, and education experts to deliberate on the dire state of education in the country.
Dr Nikhat Shakeel Khan, Convenor of PCCR, emphasized the severity of the issue in her opening remarks, attributing the crisis to entrenched gender inequality, pervasive poverty, and crumbling educational infrastructure.
She underscored the urgency of the Prime Minister’s declaration of an “Educational Emergency,” calling it a critical step toward addressing this national tragedy. Dr Khan also stressed the need for immediate legislative and policy actions to combat systemic barriers to education.
26.3 Million OOSC
Senior officials from the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training provided a sobering overview of the government’s response. Secretary Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, along with other officials, presented initiatives such as the Prime Minister’s School Meal Program, solarization of schools, and technology parks.
However, these measures were met with skepticism by participants, who questioned their scalability and effectiveness in addressing deep-rooted challenges.
Federal Education Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, the event’s keynote speaker, lamented societal and cultural barriers preventing girls from accessing education.
He called for nationwide legislative efforts to counter these norms and to prevent a looming brain drain by creating local opportunities for Pakistan’s burgeoning youth population, the largest in the country’s history.
Calls for Uniform Policies
The discussion revealed glaring policy gaps and systemic inefficiencies. MNA Syed Ali Qasim Gillani criticized the lack of coordination between federal and provincial governments, advocating for improved data sharing and stricter penalties for parents who keep children out of school despite access to free education. Meanwhile, MNA Nawabzada Mir Jamal Khan Raisani pointed to the persistent issue of ghost schools and employees in Balochistan, calling for uniform education policies across all levels of governance.
Participants, including MPAs from the provinces, emphasized the need for tailored, region-specific solutions to address the unique challenges faced by different districts. They also highlighted the critical importance of adequate budgetary allocations and community engagement in achieving meaningful outcomes.
Legislative and Budgetary Reforms
Chief Technical Advisor Mujtaba Zaidi of Anthro Insights proposed a roadmap for addressing the crisis, urging legislators to engage with educators, community leaders, and administrators to craft actionable strategies.
He stressed the need to align these strategies with existing government projects and advocated for increased budget allocations for education.
The symposium concluded with a grim consensus: Pakistan’s education system is at a breaking point. Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan called for unwavering commitment from lawmakers and stakeholders to tackle the issue head-on, describing it as a “national emergency” that demands immediate, coordinated, and sustained action.
As Pakistan grapples with an education crisis of this magnitude, failure to act decisively risks perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality, undermining the country’s future socio-economic development.
