Education in Pakistan

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Template:Infobox education in country

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.[1]


The educational framework in Pakistan consists of six distinct levels.[2] 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.[3] The Higher Education Commission, established in 2002 under the leadership of Atta-ur-Rahman, 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.[4]


The educational framework in Pakistan consists of six distinct levels.[5] 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.[6] The Higher Education Commission, established in 2002 under the leadership of Atta-ur-Rahman, oversees all universities and degree-awarding institutions.[7] [8]


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.[9] Unemployment among educated youth exceeds 31%, and women represent 51% of the unemployed, highlighting a stark gender gap in job opportunities.[10] Annually, Pakistan produces around 445,000 university graduates and between 25,000 to 30,000 graduates in computer science as of 2021.[11]


Islam, other Religions, and Education[edit]

The role of religion (here, Islam) in education in Pakistan is significant, particularly in the context of science teaching. A study examining the perspectives of Pakistani science educators revealed that a substantial number of them dismissed the concept of evolution due to their religious beliefs.[12] However, it is noteworthy that out of the 18 teachers surveyed, 14 either accepted or were little open to the idea of evolution among living organisms. Despite this, nearly all the Pakistani science teachers rejected the notion of human evolution, holding the belief that humans did not evolve from monkeys. This represents a widespread misconception and a flawed understanding of evolutionary science, as indicated by the study. Interestingly, while many teachers denied human evolution, they all concurred that there is “no contradiction between science and Islam” in a broader sense.[12]

A report from Minority Rights Group International, released in 2002, highlights the literacy rates of religious minorities in Pakistan. It indicates that the average literacy rate among Christians in Punjab stands at 34 percent, while Forward-caste Hindus also share the same rate of 34 percent. In contrast, backward-caste Hindus have a lower literacy rate of 19 percent. Other minority groups, which include Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, and nomads, have an average literacy rate of just 17 percent, in comparison to the national average of 46.56 percent. Notably, the Ahmadi community reports a literacy rate that is marginally above the national average.[13]


Literacy rate[edit]

Literacy rate by Census[edit]

The definition of literacy has been changing over time, resulting in irregular fluctuations in the literacy rates reported across various censuses. Below is a summary of these changes:[14]

Year of
census
[14]		 Total[14] Male[14] Female[14] Urban[15] Rural[15] Definition of
being "literate"[14]		 Age
group[15]
1951 (West Pakistan) 17.9%[16] 21.4%[16] 13.9%[16] N/A N/A One who can read a clear print in any language All Ages
1961 (West Pakistan) 16.9%[16] 26.1%[16] 6.7%[16] 34.8% 10.6% One who is able to read with understanding a simple letter in any language Age 5 and above
1972 21.7% 30.2% 11.6% 41.5% 14.3% One who is able to read and write in some language with understanding Age 10 and Above
1981 26.2% 35.1% 16.0% 47.1% 17.3% One who can read newspaper and write a simple letter Age 10 and Above
1998 43.92% 54.81% 32.02% 63.08% 33.64% One who can read a newspaper and write a simple letter, in any language Age 10 and Above
2023[17] 60.65% 68% 52.84% 74.09% 51.56% A person who can read a newspaper and write a simple letter in any language with understanding and can make simple calculation.[18] Age 10 and Above


Province-wise literacy rate[edit]

Province Literacy rate[14]
1972 1981 1998 2023[17]
Punjab 20.7% 27.4% 46.56% 66.25%
Sindh 30.2% 31.5% 45.29% 57.54%
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 15.5% 16.7% 35.41% 51.09%
Balochistan 10.1% 10.3% 26.6% 42.01%

Literacy rate in Federally administered Areas*[edit]

Region Literacy Rate
1981 1998 2023[17] or latest data
Islamabad (ICT) 47.8%[19][20] 72.40%[19] 83.97%
PIOJK [lower-alpha 1] 25.7%[21] 55%[22] 74% (2017)[23]
Gilgit-Baltistan 3% [24] 37.85%[24] NA


Districts with Literacy rate of 75% or above (2023 Census)[edit]

According to the 2023 Census, there are 14 districts in Pakistan where literacy rates are 75% or higher. These districts comprise 8 from northern and central Punjab, 4 from Sindh (all located in Karachi), as well as Abbottabad in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the capital city, Islamabad. Additionally, 6 of these districts boast literacy rates exceeding 80%.[25]

District Province Literacy rate
Islamabad Islamabad Capital Territory 83.97%
Karachi Central Sindh 83.55%
Rawalpindi Punjab 83.22%
Gujrat Punjab 81.37%
Jhelum Punjab 80.65%
Karachi East Sindh 80.07%
Korangi (Karachi) Sindh 79.86%
Lahore Punjab 79.62%
Karachi South Sindh 78.57%
Sialkot Punjab 78.37%
Chakwal Punjab 77.79%
Abbottabad Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 77.34%
Gujranwala Punjab 76.77%
Narowal Punjab 75.28%

References[edit]

  1. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20250125061433/https://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part2.ch1.html
  2. ↑ "Education System in Pakistan Problems, Issues & Solutions". pgc.edu. 17 November 2017. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  3. ↑ Peter Blood, ed. (1994). "[Pakistan – EDUCATION]". Pakistan: A Country Study. GPO for the Library of Congress. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  4. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20250125061433/https://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part2.ch1.html
  5. ↑ "Education System in Pakistan Problems, Issues & Solutions". pgc.edu. 17 November 2017. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  6. ↑ Peter Blood, ed. (1994). "[Pakistan – EDUCATION]". Pakistan: A Country Study. GPO for the Library of Congress. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  7. ↑ The Gazette of Pakistan hec.gov.pk
  8. ↑ "Home".
  9. ↑ "Education". www.unicef.org. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
  10. ↑ "Graduates face higher unemployment in Pakistan - here's why". mint. 2023-04-10. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  11. ↑ Saeed, Barkan (4 October 2021). "Strengthening IT skills". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Asghar, Anila (26 March 2013). "Canadian and Pakistani Muslim teachers' perceptions of evolutionary science and evolution education". Evolution: Education and Outreach. 6 (1): 10. doi:10.1186/1936-6434-6-10. S2CID 14653656.
  13. ↑ "Religious Minorities in Pakistan By Iftikhar H. Malik" (PDF). Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 Choudhry, Munir Ahmed (2005). Pakistan: where and who are the world's illiterates? (Report).
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "Literacy trends in Pakistan; 2004" (PDF). Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 "Copy of Statistical Profile2.cdr" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 November 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :3
  18. ↑ "7th Population and Housing Census - Key Findings Report" (PDF).
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Pakistan". CENSUS. Archived from the original on 24 May 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  20. ↑ Husain, Fazal; Qasim, Muhammad Ali (2005). "Inequality in the Literacy Levels in Pakistan: Existence and Changes Overtime". South Asia Economic Journal. 6 (2): 251–264. doi:10.1177/139156140500600206.
  21. ↑ "AJK literacy rate 1981 census – Google Search". 1988. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  22. ↑ Human Rights Watch: "With Friends Like These..." – Human Rights Watch – Google Books. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  23. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named tribune.com.pk
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "DAWN.COM | Education | Education in Gilgit and Baltistan". 26 June 2010. Archived from the original on 26 June 2010.
  25. ↑ "7th Population and Housing Census - Detailed Results - Table-12".

Notes[edit]

  1. ↑ Pakistan illegally occupied Jammu-Kashmir
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