‘Literacy rate ‘declined’ in post-devolution regime’

Islamabad:Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday complained about a ‘decline in literacy rates’ in the country since the decentralisation of education in 2010, and advocated for educational reforms.

“The 18th Constitutional Amendment, which transferred educational authority to the provinces, has had negative effects, contributing to lower literacy rates in the country. Education reforms are necessary, but they will not be effective until teacher training is improved,” the minister told the first meeting of the Education Task Force here. The meeting was attended by Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja, chief secretaries of all provinces, and representatives of the education ministry, UNICEF, UNDP, FCDO, UNESCO, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Malala Fund, ITA, and Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology.

Mr Iqbal voiced concern about the current state of education in the country and called for corrective measures without delay. He said that the national curriculum had various deficiencies as recently pointed out by the Federal Public Service Commission, so it should be aligned with global standards.

The minister pointed out that around 25 million Pakistani children were currently out of school, while the literacy rate stood at a mere 60 percent as a matter of grave concern. “Our [the government’s] aim is not just to enrol children in schools but we want to provide them with quality education as well,” he said.

The planning minister said every child should be equipped with basic computer skills and modern technical education, while state-of-the-art laboratories should be set up for them. He pointed out that not all people would pursue higher education or PhD programmes, which was why it was crucial to impart vocational and technical skills alongside formal education. “This will ensure that students become productive members of society,” he said.

Mr Iqbal stressed the importance of focusing on both education and health, saying Pakistan is among the top countries in the world for cases of hepatitis, tuberculosis, diabetes, and polio—an alarming situation. He acknowledged the contributions of all stakeholders and international partners, emphasising the need for a public-private partnership in both education and health sectors.

The minister said that the federal government would not leave the provinces to tackle those fundamental issues alone but would collaborate with them to implement practical measures in both sectors. He said that the development of nations depended on reforms, stability, and policy continuity.

“No society can progress without adhering to the principles of stability. We must avoid short-term changes and instead focus on adopting long-term policies,” he said. As the meeting came to a close, Mr Ahsan shared his thoughts on the future. “In 24 years when Pakistan celebrates its 100th year of independence, we must reflect on our achievements and consider where we want to be in the days ahead,” he said.