The latest Pakistan Education Statistics Report for the academic year 2021/22 has brought to light a deeply concerning issue regarding the staggering number of Out-of-School Children (OOSC). The preliminary findings, disclosed today, underscore the critical state of education accessibility in the country.
As of the academic year 2021-22, a startling 26.2 million children in Pakistan are out of school. The provincial breakdown reveals alarming figures for Punjab (11.73 million), Sindh (7.63 million), KPK (3.63 million), Balochistan (3.13 million), and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) with 0.08 million out-of-school students.
Of particular concern is that 39% of children within the school-going age group are currently not attending school, indicating a persistent challenge in achieving universal education. Balochistan stands out with the highest percentage, where an alarming 65% of children are out of school, while ICT reports the lowest percentage. Among the major provinces, KPK performs relatively 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 out-of-school rates of 44%, 30%, and 36% at high, middle, and primary levels respectively.
A significant portion of the out-of-school children, totaling 10.77 million, is at the primary level, underscoring 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.
More detailed insights into economic disparities and additional statistics are expected to be disclosed during a comprehensive release scheduled for Monday in PIE Islamabad.
