More than 22m children out of schools in Pakistan

Over 22 million children in Pakistan between the age group of five and 16 are out of schools despite the government’s claim of improving their enrolment in educational institutions, according to a report.

The Pakistan Education Statistic 2015-16 report launched by a department of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training disclosed that as many as 44 per cent children (22.6 million) between the age group of five to 16 are still out of school, Dawn reported.

The report said the number of out-of-school children has reduced from last year’s figure of 24 million to 22.6 million.

The statistics further said 21 per cent primary schools in the country are being run by a single teacher while 14 per cent have one room.

It said only 30 per cent children remain enrolled from class one till tenth. Balochistan region is home to the highest proportion of outof-school children followed by the impoverished tribal region along Afghan border.

“As many as 70 per cent children in Balochistan and 58 per cent in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) are out of school,” the report said.

As regards to schools’ infrastructure, 40 per cent public sector primary schools were operating without electricity, 28 per cent did not have toilets, 25 per cent were without boundary walls and 29 per cent had no access to drinking water. While 7 per cent schools did not have any building and 43 per cent had unsatisfactory buildings.