Education emergency

Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province, also leads in a far more troubling statistic - it has the highest number of out-of-school children in the country. A fact sheet by a nonprofit organisation has revealed that nearly 10 million children in Punjab are not receiving formal education. This figure is not just an indictment of the education system but also a violation of fundamental rights. Article 25-A of the Constitution guarantees free and compulsory education for all children aged 5 to 16. Yet, the sheer magnitude of out-of-school children in Punjab exposes the failure of the successive governments to uphold this constitutional mandate. The situation is further complicated by the province's rapidly growing population. According to estimates, Punjab will require at least 19,000 new schools by 2040 to accommodate future generations. This demand underscores the need for immediate policy intervention. Punjab's education budget remains insufficient, with inadequate investment in school infrastructure, teacher training and curriculum development. Even in urban areas, the quality of education remains questionable. The provincial government's go-to solution appears to be outsourcing public schools to private entities. But this could ultimately deepen educational disparities between socioeconomic classes. It is true that the government faces severe financial constraints, making large-scale educational reform challenging. However, a lack of funds does not mean reforms are impossible - it means the government must adopt a smarter, phased and resource-efficient strategy. Instead of fully relying on outsourcing, the government can maximise its limited budget through targeted interventions, public-private partnerships and governance reforms. One of the most effective ways to optimise limited resources is to prioritise fixing existing public schools before expanding the network. Alternative education models, such as evening schools and multi-grade classrooms, can be introduced in rural areas where building new schools is not immediately feasible.

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