Islamabad (Lord Media): Over 25 million children in Pakistan are unable to attend school, primarily due to poor governance and insufficient funding, according to the latest report by the Civil Services Academy. The federal government had declared an educational emergency two years ago, yet structural issues have hindered the achievement of targets.
The report highlights the lack of implementation of the National Education Action Plan 2026. According to the Pakistan Institute of Education, poverty, population growth, and low investment have exacerbated the educational crisis. Between 1990 and 2010, the lack of development in educational infrastructure led to a rise in private educational institutions.
The report states that between 25.1 million to 26 million children in Pakistan are deprived of education, and the dream of providing free education under Article 25-A of the Constitution remains unfulfilled. In Punjab, the number of out-of-school children ranges from 9.6 million to 10.4 million.
In Punjab, 6.4 million children have never attended school, while 3.16 million dropped out. Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan face distinct challenges, while educational inequality remains a significant issue in federal areas.
