Education in Pakistan
Overview
Education in Pakistan is overseen by the Federal Ministry of Education and the provincial governments, whereas the federal government mostly assists in curriculum development, accreditation and in the financing of research and development. Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan obligates the state to provide free and compulsory quality education to children of the age group 3 to 16 years. "The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years in such a manner as may be determined by law".
History
The education system in Pakistan has its roots in the colonial era where it was structured to serve the political and administrative needs of the British colonial rule. The system was elitist in nature and was primarily aimed at creating a class of people who could serve as administrators in the colonial government. After independence in 1947, the government of Pakistan continued with this system with minor modifications.
Structure
The education system in Pakistan is generally divided into six levels: Preschool (for the age from 3 to 5 years); primary (grades one through five); middle (grades six through eight); high (grades nine and ten, leading to the Secondary School Certificate); intermediate (grades eleven and twelve, leading to a Higher Secondary School Certificate); and university programs leading to graduate and advanced degrees.
Issues and Challenges
Despite the constitutional mandate to provide free and compulsory education to all children, the state of education in Pakistan is fraught with numerous issues and challenges. These include disparities in access to education, poor quality of education, high dropout rates, lack of trained teachers, inadequate infrastructure, and low public expenditure on education.
Efforts and Initiatives
Over the years, both the federal and provincial governments in Pakistan have undertaken numerous initiatives to improve the state of education in the country. These efforts have been supported by international donors and non-governmental organizations. However, the impact of these initiatives has been mixed and the overall state of education in Pakistan remains a cause for concern.