n the 21st Century, education has taken the centre stage with its pivotal role in change, development and emancipation. In Pakistan, however, we face four major educational challenges. The first challenge is the lack of access to schools for a large number of children; the second challenge the lack of quality in education; the third a high dropout rate; and the fourth challenge the disconnect between curriculum and contemporary societal needs.

Let us look first at the enormity of the challenge of access. According to the Pakistan Education Statistics (2022-23) released by Pakistan Institute of Education, there were 26.09 million children out of school in 2023. This, by any standard, is a huge number of out of school children. Major reasons for this large number of out of school children include a lack of schools in some areas; lack of financial resources; large distances between schools and homes; and a lack of adequate security for female students.

The number continues to grow on account of the students dropping out from schools. According to Pakistan Education Statistics(2022-23), 38 percent of school-going children drop out before they reach Grade 8.A significant reason for dropping out is the lack of financial resources. Many parents say they cannot bear the education related expenses. The distance between schools and homes, especially for girls, can exacerbate the dropout problem. In general, there is a lack of interest and motivation in classrooms. Teachers are mostly perceived as harsh people and the learning process slow and uninteresting. In many schools students are discouraged from asking questions, disagreeing with the teacher or expressing independent views. In many rural schools, and some urban ones, physical punishment is considered necessary. Severe physical punishment is a major reason for dropping out. Punishments such as harsh scolding, name-calling and undermining students’ self-esteem also contribute to drop out.

In some cases, school-age children are the sole breadwinners of their families. While some of them find low-wage jobs and apprenticeships, many turn to begging. In many large cities they are present at every bus stop, market and traffic signal. Many appear barefoot and in dirty, tattered clothes, seemingly unaware of the joys of normal life. Most employers of children accused of frequent scolding and harsh punishments for minor mistakes. This diminishes the self-esteem and personal identity for the working children. Their helplessness can sometimes breed a severe desire for revenge.

In addition to begging and engaging in other hazardous activities, these children sometimes get involved in serious crime. This can lead to arrest and imprisonment. The time spent in jail often reinforces their desire for revenge on the society. Continuous physical and psychological abuse can also lead to substance abuse, starting from smoking cigarettes and progressing to stronger drugs. The use of narcotics not only disrupts their social identity but also destabilises families and communities.

To address the out of school children and dropout challenges, there is a need for emergency measures by the state. The government has a responsibility to alleviate the economic pressure on people to facilitate access to education. Education at the primary level should not only be free in terms of tuition fee; books, notebooks, uniforms, school bags, etc, should also provided be the state. Some provincial governments have taken steps in this regard, but some of the fundamental issues related to the timely delivery of books remain unresolved. A large of schools lack basic facilities including boundary walls, safe drinking water, wash rooms, appropriate furniture and heating and cooling arrangements. These requires funding at the state level. Financial allocations for education are low.

The relationship between teachers and students, as well as among teachers, significantly affects a child’s personality. Given the severity of the illiteracy challenge we face; we need to work hard to improve our literacy rate. For this purpose, we need to ensure universal access for children to schools, raise awareness among parents and reduce educational expenses. Additionally, we need to make the school environment attractive and encourage collaboration among teachers, parents and students.

To tackle the dropout challenge, action is needed at four levels. First, it is the government’s responsibility to take serious measures to resolve this problem. There should be an increase in funding for education, and financial support should be provided to economically disadvantaged children. There is a need for vocational academies at the government level to guide and consult in providing children with skills to lead better lives. Merely legislating against punishment in schools is not enough; such laws need to be implemented effectively.

At the second level, there is a need for a fundamental change in teachers’ attitudes in schools. They must understand that children who drop out due to fear of teachers are unlikely to return to school. The third level involves the parents; they should understand the importance of education and continuously remind their children of the value of education and school. At the fourth level, it is the society’s responsibility to support all the children who have fallen behind.

The writer is an educationist. He can be reached at: shahidksiddiqui@gmail.com