According to the Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE), more than 25 million children in the country are currently out of school, 20 million of whom have never attended school. The latest report highlights that over 1,084 transgender children are also among those not enrolled in any educational institution, raising concerns about inclusivity and access.
The breakdown of numbers in the report reveals disturbing disparities. Punjab, considered the most prosperous region of the country, accounts for 9.6 million out-of-school children, including 4.7 million boys and 4.8 million girls.
Closely behind is Sindh Province, with 7.8 million children not attending school, 3.7 million boys and 4 million girls.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 4.9 million children remain unenrolled, comprising 2 million boys and 2.9 million girls.
Balochistan reports 2.9 million out-of-school children, split between 1.4 million boys and 1.5 million girls.
Even the federal capital faces a significant challenge: 89,000 children between the ages of 6 and 16 are out of school, including 47,849 boys and 41,275 girls.
The PIE report cautions that the number of out-of-school children is quickly rising at a constant pace of 200,000 each year, demanding immediate attention to the issue.
Education experts emphasise that effective and immediate policy measures are needed to ensure all children have access to formal education.
The scale of the crisis is alarming relative to Pakistan’s population and extends well beyond its borders.
A 2023 UNESCO report estimated about 89.7 million out-of-school children in Central and Southern Asia. Recent figures confirm millions remain out of school in specific countries, with issues like poverty, climate change, and specific government policies contributing to the problem.
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