Bridging the divide

According to the 2023 population census of Pakistan, 121 million individuals, or 59 per cent of the population aged over five, have attended school at some point in their lives.

While this statistic might appear to show progress, a deeper dive into the data reveals significant disparities, particularly when analysed by gender and region. These disparities not only affect educational attainment but have far-reaching implications for the job market, learning abilities, and the future distribution of management and C-suite positions. As the global job market continues to evolve, Pakistan’s ability to close this educational gap will be a critical factor in ensuring that both men and women are equipped to contribute equally to the economy.

According to a research study by GALLUP Pakistan, the census data shows that Punjab leads the way in school attendance, with 72.28 million individuals having attended school. Sindh follows with 25.05 million, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with 17.95 million, and Balochistan with 4.58 million. While these numbers indicate a strong provincial representation in education, they mask a disturbing gender gap that becomes more evident when scrutinised further.

In Punjab, 71.5 per cent of males have attended school compared to 60.9 per cent of females. This nearly 11-percentage point difference may seem small in comparison to Balochistan, where the gender gap is striking. Only 29.3 per cent of females have ever attended school, compared to 46.1 per cent of males. This stark disparity paints a clear picture of how girls and women, particularly in less developed regions, are being left behind when it comes to access to education.

The consequences of this gender gap cannot be overstated. Education plays a crucial role in empowering individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to participate in the workforce. With fewer women attending school, a significant portion of the population is excluded from meaningful participation in the economy. This exclusion exacerbates gender disparities not only in entry-level jobs but also in management and C-suite positions, where women are already underrepresented.

When analysing school attendance by age group, some positive trends emerge. For the 15–49 age cohort, 67 million people (or 58 per cent of that group) have attended school. However, for the 5–16 age group, a promising 51 million people (72 per cent) have attended school, illustrating an increase in school attendance among younger generations.

While this rise in attendance is encouraging, it is still critical to consider the persistent gender gap. In the 5–9 age group, 71.5 per cent of boys have attended school, compared to 65.4 per cent of girls. This gap widens in older age brackets. In the 25–40 age range, 64 per cent of men have attended school, but only 47 per cent of women have done so. These widening gaps suggest that although more girls are entering the education system, cultural, economic, and societal pressures still disproportionately force girls out of school as they grow older.

This trend has significant long-term consequences for gender parity in the workforce. As girls drop out of school, they lose opportunities to develop the critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills needed to excel in professional environments. This affects their chances of securing management roles or breaking into the C-suite, where strategic decision-making often determines the success of an organization.

The direct impact of this educational disparity is already evident in Pakistan’s job market. Men dominate many fields, from entry-level positions to the highest executive roles. Women, on the other hand, face multiple barriers, including cultural stigmas, limited access to education, and fewer job opportunities.

For women who do enter the workforce, the lack of formal education diminishes their ability to compete for higher-paying jobs, which require advanced skills in areas like technology, digital literacy, finance, and management. Without equal access to education, women are often relegated to lower-paying jobs in fields such as domestic work, retail, or informal labour, further entrenching gender inequality in the job market.

Unequal education limits women’s learning abilities and hinders their capacity for innovation and leadership, skills crucial for ascending to senior management and C-suite positions. In contrast, countries that have narrowed the educational gender gap have seen significant increases in female representation in leadership roles, which correlates with improved business outcomes, more innovative solutions, and higher overall productivity.

In terms of future leadership roles, the current educational gap suggests that women will continue to be underrepresented in management and C-suite positions in Pakistan. The disparity remains too wide to ensure that women can compete equally with men for leadership roles in the future.

Closing this gap will require not just policy interventions aimed at increasing female school attendance but also broader societal changes. These include challenging cultural norms that prioritise boys’ education over girls’, providing financial incentives for families to keep their daughters in school, and developing targeted mentorship and leadership programs for women in the workforce. The private sector must play an active role in promoting gender diversity by implementing policies that foster inclusive hiring, leadership development, and career advancement opportunities for women.

The persistent gender gap, particularly in regions like Balochistan, threatens to derail the progress made. If left unaddressed, this educational inequality will exacerbate the gender disparity. To ensure that Pakistan’s future workforce is more equitable, concerted efforts must be made to empower women to contribute meaningfully to the economy and leadership roles across sectors.

The writer is an independent journalist from Karachi.