What does it really mean to be educated in Pakistan? Is it just about earning a degree? In a country where literacy rates are still low, it’s time to rethink how we view education.
Pakistan’s education system is facing serious issues, from a low literacy rate to poor school conditions. As per the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, the current literacy rate in Pakistan is 62.3 percent, which means around 60 million people in the country are unable to read and write. More than 22 million children are out of school, making Pakistan one of the countries with the highest number of out-of-school children. Gender inequality is also a major concern—only 46 percent of females are literate, while the literacy rate for males is 72 percent.
Many serious problems still exist that slow down the progress of education. One big problem is poor infrastructure, as many schools do not have basic things like clean drinking water, toilets, and proper classrooms. About 30 percent of schools in the country do not have proper buildings, which makes the learning environment unsafe and not helpful. Another issue is that many teachers are not properly trained, with about 1 in 3 being underqualified. The country also does not spend enough money on education, using only 1.7 percent of its GDP, which is much lower than the 4–6 percent recommended by UNESCO. Also, the education system is not well-organized and has many differences across regions.
These systematic gaps have caused major inequalities in education between urban and rural areas. Remote regions like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa face some of the hardest problems in getting quality education. If these issues are not solved, Pakistan’s education system will not be able to reach its full potential.
The government of Pakistan has started several programmes in recent years to improve education. One of these is the Federal Foundational Learning Policy, launched in June 2024, which aims to make sure that by 2030, all children in federal areas will learn basic skills. This policy covers government schools, private schools, non-formal education centres, and religious schools in Islamabad Capital Territory, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training also introduced STEM Pakistan to bring advanced technology and interactive learning into schools. The Sindh Education Foundation’s People’s School Programme, started in 2022, aims to provide quality education in English through public-private partnerships. By 2025, this programme will run 35 schools in Sindh with over 25,000 students. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government also launched the Human Capital Investment Project in July 2024, planning to set up 400 community schools and enroll over 26,000 children. In January 2025, the United Nations and Pakistan’s government launched 40 smart classrooms as part of the Girls’ Right to Education Programme, helping 3000 girls in marginalized areas. These programmes show the country’s dedication to improving education for everyone.
These initiatives show Pakistan’s commitment to improving education for everyone. However, despite all these efforts, Pakistan’s education system still faces big challenges. One major problem is the inconsistency in policies. Changes in the government lead to shifts in education priorities, which causes projects to be unfinished and reforms to be inconsistent. This unpredictability stops long-term progress and makes it hard to improve education quality. Political instability makes things worse by taking attention away from important education issues. Political problems often lead to budget cuts, delays in policy actions, and mismanagement of funds, leaving many education programmes ineffective.
Social norms also block progress in education, especially in rural areas where cultural barriers stop many from going to school, particularly girls. Many villages still don’t have schools, as rural areas are often affected by floods and heavy rains every year. Teachers are also unwilling to work in remote areas because of poor facilities and security issues.
Pakistan can use Finland’s creative teaching methods by focusing more on student-centered learning, reducing rote learning, and using better ways to evaluate students. Investing in teacher training, using technology, and encouraging stress-free learning can improve education quality. Also, ensuring equal access to education, supporting public-private partnerships, and using research-based strategies can help create long-term progress. This progress should go beyond giving degrees and focus on teaching young people practical skills for a competitive future.
In comparison, both India and Bangladesh have made good progress in improving their education systems through stable policies and strong government support. India has invested a lot in digital education, skill development programmes, and national policies like the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which focuses on flexible and well-rounded education. Bangladesh has made great improvements in primary school enrollment and gender equality with programmes like the Primary Education Stipend Programme (PESP).
To improve education in Pakistan, we need a stable education system that is not affected by political changes. More money should be spent on education, focusing on better school buildings, updated lessons, and teacher training. Teachers should get good training, rewards for their hard work, and better working conditions to attract and keep skilled teachers, especially in rural areas. New ideas and methods should also be used to improve education, including better ways of teaching and more modern ways to check students’ progress.
Pakistan can use Finland’s creative teaching methods by focusing more on student-centered learning, reducing rote learning, and using better ways to evaluate students. Investing in teacher training, using technology, and encouraging stress-free learning can improve education quality. Also, ensuring equal access to education, supporting public-private partnerships, and using research-based strategies can help create long-term progress. This progress should go beyond giving degrees and focus on teaching young people practical skills for a competitive future.
