Education in Pakistan

Education has never been Pakistan's strong point. As part of his program to overhaul Pakistan's institutions in the 1970s, Zulifkar Ali Bhutto nationalized private educational institutions, many of which were gifts by philanthropists. The government then wasted little time in quickly dissolving these schools into nothingness. The resulting mediocrity soon gave way to apathy, a phenomenon further compounded by the "quota system." This obstacle in the way of an equitable merit-based system exists even today.

The result of these measures is the travesty that passes for education in Pakistan. There are basically three kinds of schools: the elite private institutions that cater to the upper class; the government-run schools serving the lower echelons of the population and the Madrassah, the religious school.

Private schools have become a necessity for contemporary Pakistani society since the government has failed to provide quality education for its population. A majority of parents, even those from lower income brackets, send their children to private schools so they can receive an education that will enable them to be competitive.

Also, most Pakistanis want their children to learn English. Private schools offer all instruction in English while government schools offer instruction in either Urdu or the local provincial language.

The feudal state of Pakistani society has prevented meaningful educational reforms from taking place. And, in many rural areas where the local tribal chief's word is law, schools will not function without his say so. There are many cases where chiefs will not allow any schools in their "jurisdiction."

Budget allocation for education is another important issue. There is no doubt that like many underdeveloped nations, Pakistan faces financial constraints for various reasons. Still, the government allocates less than 3%of the total annual budget for education. The current military government has apportioned a meager 2.9 % for the fiscal year 2001-2002.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, (UNESCO), proposes an underdeveloped nation allocate at least 4% of its total GDP for education. Chad, one of the poorest nations in the world, has allocated 6% for education in its last budget.

The condition of government schools all over the country and the quality of education being imparted there are going from bad to worse, day by day. Thousands of government schools are "ghost schools," existing on paper only. The buildings, mostly in rural areas, that were meant to house these schools are either dilapidated due to negligence or have been converted into otaqs (drawing rooms) for the local wadaras (land owners).

Thousands of "ghost" teachers have been drawing salaries from the education departments of the four provinces. They do not do any actual teaching since there are no functioning schools. Theysimply show up to collect their salaries on the appointed day.

According to a survey conducted by the education departments of Sindh and Punjab provinces in 1998, some 700 primary and secondary schools and 18,000 teachers were found "ghost" in Punjab and 340 schools and 7,000 teachers in Sindh.

Currently, the government claims Pakistan has a literacy rate of 47%. However, independent analysts and educational organizations put the actual figure at about 20%.

Nadeem Khan

Date/Time Last Modified: 6/17/2002 3:44:46 PM

Readers' Comment

ali asghar malik: 9/27/2005 10:16:07 AM
Education in pakistan is very much poor. magzines and news papers survey is that the literacy ratio in pakistan is 57% but i think it is not more than 21%. This is my own survey.

G.Raza Raisani: 4/8/2006 9:26:50 PM
eduction ratio in pakistan is very low,becaue of the poverty,the majortiy of the people,s are very poor they canot tolerate the expenditure of the education ,the books and othere necessery things are related with educaion are not acceptable for the poor families,this is on of big factor which keeping away pakistani poor peoples form the education.if goverment slove the basic needs of the poples , i hope the tendency of education will increase with in few years,

fazila naqui: 5/24/2006 4:31:11 AM
Mass illiteracy helps keep weak and corrupt governments of third world in power and that is why successive governments in Pakistan have pushed education to the lowest rung of their agenda with meagre allocation of funds so that they can build Nuclear bombs, drive in bullet proof million dollars cars enjoy the wealth of the country take family and friends on official trips while the people continue to live in abject poverty denied the very basic right to even minimal quality life.

Sadam: 7/12/2006 12:37:28 AM
Pakistan's education ratio is too low, its a fact but how can it be polished out? That's the question we all ask from ourselves. But we cann't find its answer its all because there is not only one but many causes behind this.In my view i think povery is the root cause of low litracy in Pakistan,because Pakistan's 59% population is under poverty line so they cann't afford expensive fees and also burden of books.So if poverty is abolished from our country we may get a peaceful and prosper and also educated Pakistan.

Asef Khan: 8/13/2006 5:49:50 AM
Education in Governoments schools of pakistan is very low. And this is the major point. All our students are just spending and distroying there time and whole life. If our education is low so our country future result will be poor and cheep. i am one gov. school student.

Basit Sultan: 11/8/2006 10:29:00 AM
It is a universal reality that without education man is nothing.Government has done a tremendous job to increase the literacy rate.I would like to suggest that there is a lot of improvement needed in this regard and for this Government as well as citizens should come forward, individually as well as collectively,to educate more and more people for a bette and prosper PAKISTAN.

Sundas Awan: 11/28/2006 8:32:39 AM
In Pakistan, The Education rate is very low.Govt. don't want to provide education's facility to people.In govt.schools and colleges teachers don't want to fulfil teir duties.They only come to schools and colleges to get their fees only.So,Govt.should take action and do work for the betterment of education system.

© 2004, Human Development Foundation. All rights reserved.
1350 Remington Road, Suite W, Schaumburg, Il. 60173
Toll Free: (800) 705-1310 | Email: info@yespakistan.com | Privacy Policy