Education in Pakistan

Literacy Rate in each Pakistani District as of the 2017 Pakistan Census

In Pakistan, the Federal Ministry of Education, along with provincial governments, is responsible for overseeing education. The federal government mainly focuses on developing curricula, accreditation, and funding research and development initiatives. According to Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan, the state is required to provide free and compulsory quality education for children aged 5 to 16 years. It states, The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years in such manner as may be determined by law.

The educational framework in Pakistan consists of six distinct levels. It begins with preschool for children aged 3 to 5 years, followed by primary education covering grades one to five. This is succeeded by middle school, which includes grades six to eight. Secondary education encompasses grades nine and ten, culminating in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC). After this, students enter the intermediate level, spanning grades eleven and twelve, leading to the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC). Finally, higher education involves university programs that offer undergraduate and graduate degrees. The Higher Education Commission, established in 2002 under the leadership of Atta-ur-Rahman, oversees all universities and degree-awarding institutions.

Pakistan continues to struggle with a low literacy rate compared to other nations. As of 2022, literacy rates vary significantly, from 96% in Islamabad to just 23% in the Torghar District. Gender disparities are evident, with female literacy at a mere 9.5% in tribal areas, while Azad Kashmir boasts a rate of 91%. The country has the second-highest number of out-of-school children globally, with 22.8 million, trailing only Nigeria. Unemployment among educated youth exceeds 31%, and women represent 51% of the unemployed, highlighting a stark gender gap in job opportunities. Annually, Pakistan produces around 445,000 university graduates and between 25,000 to 30,000 graduates in computer science as of 2021.