Pakistan faces a severe education crisis, with over 25 million children—roughly one in three school-age children—not attending school, according to a recent report by Save the Children. This figure places Pakistan among the highest globally for out-of-school children, with girls disproportionately affected, making up nearly 12 million of the total. The report highlights a drop in the national literacy rate to 60.65% in 2023, down from 62.8% the previous year, signaling a regression in educational progress.
The crisis is most acute in Balochistan, where nearly 70% of children aged 5–15 have never attended school, and in Sindh, where literacy has fallen below 2008 levels to 57.54%. Budget cuts have exacerbated the situation, with education spending dropping to 1.5% of GDP in 2023, far below UNESCO’s recommended 4%. This has led to a shortage of schools, teachers, and facilities, particularly in rural and poverty-stricken areas. Climate-related disruptions, such as the 2022 floods that affected 2.9 million students and heatwaves in 2024, have further hindered access to education.
Out-of-school children face heightened risks of child labor and early marriage, with 1.6 million children in Sindh alone engaged in hazardous work and 18.9 million girls married before age 18. Efforts to address the issue include a $9 million grant from the Global Partnership for Education to improve early education in Balochistan and initiatives like the Waseela-i-Taleem program to boost school retention. However, experts stress the need for increased funding, teacher training, and curriculum reforms to ensure equitable access to quality education.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 11th, 2025
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