Problem of Education in Pakistan and Its

Remedies

INTRODUCTION

Education is one of the most important sectors in the development of

the nation. The more literate or well-educated a nation, the better
chances she has to flourish economically and bring prosperity to the
country.

EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN

Education in Pakistan is overseen by Ministry of Education

of Government of Pakistan. The academic institutions are the
responsibility of the provincial governments whereas the federal
government mostly assists in curriculum development, accreditation
and some financing of research.

The education in Pakistan is generally divided into five

levels: Primary (grades one through five); Middle (grades six through
eight);High (grades nine and ten, leading to the Secondary School
Certificate or SSC); Intermediate (grades eleven and twelve, leading
to a Higher Secondary (School) Certificate or HSC);
and University programs leading
to Graduate and Advanced degrees.

Despite a good start and sound base laid by the forefathers of

Pakistan, the education system and the quality of education drastically
deteriorated overtime in the country and now the state of education is
nothing short of being desperate.

STATISTICS ON EDUCATION

EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN

NATIONAL EDUCATION BUDGET (2007)

Budget: Rs.9556.442 million (2.2% of the GDP)

GENERAL DETAILS
 Primary Urdu and English.
Languages:

System Type: Mainly public.

LITERACY (2009)

Total: 57%

Male: 69%

Female: 45%

ENROLLMENT

Total: 37,462,900

Primary: 22,650,000

Secondary: 2,884,400

Post Secondary: 1,349,000

Year
Of Fema Tota Urba Definition Of Age
Male Rural
Cens le l n Being "Literate" group
us

One who can read a

19.2 16.4
1951 12.2% -- -- clear All Ages
% %
print in any language
 One who is able to
read with Age 5
26.9 16.3 10.6
1961 8.2% 34.8% understanding a and
% % %
simple letter in any above
language

One who is able to

read and Age 10
30.2 21.7 14.3
1972 11.6% 41.5% write in some and
% % %
language with Above
understanding

One who can read

Age 10
35.1 26.2 17.3 newspaper
1981 16.0% 47.1% and
% % % and write a simple
Above
letter

54.8 43.9 63.08 33.64

1998 32.0%
% % % %
One who can read a
newspaper Age 10
66.25 41.75 and write a simple and
2004 54% 71% 44%
% % letter, in any Above
language

2009 69% 45% 57% 74% 48%

In different reports the Ministry of Education claimed that literacy in

Pakistan is over 50%, but open sources disagree with it and they say
that it merely 35%. During the year 2003-04 the literacy rate is placed
at 54 % (male 66%; female 42%). (The development of education in
Pakistan National report of MoE, July 2004). The literacy rate claimed
includes the people who can only write their name or they can read
newspaper or simple sign boards/advertising boards. Different steps
are taken to improve this situation but situation seems to improve very
little. The U.N. Development Programs 2004 Human Development
Report assigns Pakistan. The lowest “education index” of any country
form outside Africa. (W.B., Report, September 2004).

Problems of education in Pakistan

Pakistan faces a number of problems in its education sector. These
problems lead to an increased deprivation of educational facilities to
the nation and further bring down the literacy rate of the country and
hindering the economic development of the country.

These problems are being pointed to at by the educationists;

international reports by independent sources, and also in the
government reports, yet no concrete steps have been taken to
eradicate these problems.
MAJOR PROBLEMS IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR OF
PAKISTAN

The major problems in the educational sector of Pakistan are;

 A generally low literacy rate

 Poor allocation of educational budget (about 2.2% of the GDP)
 Higher drop-out rate at primary and secondary levels
 Lower standard of education
 Multiple educational system in the country
 Lack of a concise national educational policy
 Inappropriate, outdated and dysfunctional curriculum
 Shortage of qualified teachers
 Lack of commitment on all levels

These problems have been highlighted by the educationists time and

again; however a severe lack of commitment by the government at all
levels is only making the situation on Pakistani education sector worse
by the day.

RECOMMENDATION FOR THE REMEDIES OF

EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS OF PAKISTAN

1. Low Literacy Rate

Pakistan is one of the counties with a very low literacy rate and
according to the 2009 Educational Census, was 57%.
Government of Pakistan should take immediate concrete steps to
make educational facilities free and available to the people of
Pakistan.

2. Poor Allocation Of Educational Budget (About 2.2% Of The

GDP)
Pakistan spends a mere 2.2% of its budget on educational sector
and the most of it is released to the higher education.
A greater allocation of budget for education is inevitable and
pumping the funds into the primary and secondary levels of
education is the need of the day.

3. Higher Drop-Out Rate At Primary And Secondary Levels

A higher drop out rate due to deteriorating economic conditions
further adds to the problem. This needs to be taken care of
immediately.
Proposals like a recent scheme by a Karachi based NGO “I am paid
to learn” can be formulated by the government where children from
lower socio-economic levels are lured into schools by paying them
to get education. This eases the economic burden on their families,
and in turn the receive education.

4. Multiple Educational System In The Country

Currently in Pakistan, there are several education systems running
in the country and there is a severe lack of a unified curriculum. A
concise national educational policy needs to be devised to eradicate
this problem.

5. Formulation of a Concise National Educational Policy

A concise and committed national policy for education desperately
needs to be devised to eliminate all the educational problems of
Pakistan. The policy needs to be honestly formulated and strictly
monitored for the betterment of the country’s educational system.

Most of the above mentioned problems of shortage of teachers, lack

of commitment, dysfunctional and out-dated curricula; can all be
effectively taken care of and adequately monitored for any future
malfunctioning, in the presence of a sound and solid national
educational policy.