Staggering Progress in Education
According to the latest Demographic Survey, only 13% of the population has obtained a primary education.
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Pakistan ranked second to last in a 2019 assessment, measuring the population’s proficiency in science and mathematics. However, the country’s reports and surveys use a simpler threshold to measure the country’s literacy rate. The recent Pakistan Demographic Survey asked people if they could read or write a simple sentence with proper understanding. Consequently, the figures for literacy are superficially bloated, reducing proper policy interventions.
Considering the country’s commitment to SDG goals, the country lies way behind its projected progress in education. Moreover, COVID and floods have further aggravated the ‘learning poverty gap’. With increased infrastructural problems, even willing students are unable to gain a proper education. This has led to a huge number of out-of-school children. A World Bank report found that 77% of Pakistan’s children at late primary age faced learning poverty, an inability to read or write at a level suitable for their age, adjusted for out-of-school children.
A study in South Punjab also found the percentage of capable pre-primary teachers to be around 11% (n=200). The number was significantly higher in flood-hit areas. These issues when coupled with inadequate spending on education (1.8% of GDP), paint an abysmal picture for Pakistan. Especially, since Balochistan has historically suffered due to a lack of focus on the area’s development.
Various smart interventions can help Pakistan achieve its literacy and human development goals. For instance, conditional cash transfers are an efficient use of government funds as seen in the Mexican Progressa program. Additionally, better training and improved criteria for teaching staff can help enhance the quality of education, thereby focusing on the learning poverty gap. Such interventions can be sequenced to reduce provincial disparity in literacy rates, thereby ensuring inclusive growth.
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