ISLAMABAD: The Economic Survey 2024-25 has painted a concerning picture of Pakistan’s education sector, revealing a decline in early childhood school enrollment and continued underinvestment in education.
According to the report released Monday, the enrollment rate of children aged three to five years dropped by 3.3% compared to the previous year. In 2023, 11.7 million children were enrolled in schools; however, in 2024, this number decreased sharply to 11.6 million — raising alarms about access to early education.
Despite the pressing challenges, education spending remained disproportionately low. Only 0.8% of the national GDP was allocated to education — far below international benchmarks and the minimum required to drive sustainable development in the sector.
The country’s overall literacy rate stood at 60.6%, with a glaring gender disparity. Male literacy was reported at 68%, while female literacy lagged behind at 52.8%. This 16% gender gap underscores ongoing challenges in ensuring equitable access to education for women and girls.
The total number of universities across Pakistan rose to 269, including 160 public and 109 private institutions. However, the report points out that only 37.97% of faculty members hold PhD degrees — an indicator of limited research capacity and academic advancement.
An amount of Rs61.1 billion was spent on higher education during the fiscal year, which, according to experts, is insufficient given the growing demands of a youthful population and rapidly evolving global academic standards.
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