Despite decades of policies and promises, over 23 million children in Pakistan remain out of school.
- This is the second-highest figure globally, and disproportionately affects Sindh, Balochistan, and rural Punjab.
By Abdullah Usman Morai | Sweden
“Jahalat ka khatma – 100% literacy rate.”
This line from an Urdu book I read in my 20s has echoed in my mind ever since. I no longer recall the book’s title, but I vividly remember the sentence. Amid data on world nations, flags, populations, and currencies, one sentence stood out:
Jahalat ka khatma – 100% literacy rate.”
That line planted a seed in my heart, and the question it sparked has grown louder over the years:
When will Pakistan—and especially Sindh—write this sentence into reality?
When will our streets, schools, and minds finally reflect a nation where every child is literate, curious, and free?
In this 21st century, where humanity is building space colonies, editing genes, and living in the cloud, keeping children out of school is not merely negligence—it is a crime. It is the silent theft of futures, the deliberate stifling of minds, and the cruel denial of hope.
Why Education Matters: Beyond the Blackboard
Education is not just about classrooms or passing exams. It is the heartbeat of progress, the difference between oppression and opportunity, between silence and voice.
A child with education gains not only knowledge but agency—the power to question, to create, to change the world around them. An educated society fosters not only economic growth but tolerance, innovation, and peace.
Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” And yet, in many parts of the world—and especially in Pakistan—we have kept this weapon locked away from millions.
The Grim Reality in Numbers
Despite decades of policies and promises, over 23 million children in Pakistan remain out of school. This is the second-highest figure globally, and disproportionately affects Sindh, Balochistan, and rural Punjab.
- In districts like Tharparkar, Jacobabad, and Dadu, female literacy hovers around 15-25%.
- Thousands of schools exist only on paper—ghost schools with no buildings, no teachers, and no students.
- Girls, minority children, the poor, and rural populations continue to suffer the most.
This isn’t just a data failure. It is a moral and national emergency.
Who Keeps Children Away from Schools?
Let’s ask the hard question: Who benefits from an uneducated population?
Behind every child out of school is a system, often designed to preserve control, power, and silence. In rural Sindh, feudal lords fear literate youth who might challenge land injustices. In urban slums, mafias and exploitative employers prefer children who are obedient workers, not empowered dreamers.
There are hidden minds behind this darkness, hiding behind bureaucracy, patriarchy, and political interests. These forces ensure that education remains a privilege for a few, not a right for all.
What Does It Mean to Be Educated?
Being able to read and write doesn’t make one educated.
A person who blindly follows hate, discriminates against others, or abuses power—despite having a degree—is merely schooled, not educated.
True education must develop:
- Critical thinking
- Moral imagination
- Compassion and empathy
- Civic awareness
- Creative problem-solving
- Courage to stand against injustice
A literate person is not someone who can read English or recite math tables, but one who questions corruption, respects humanity, and contributes positively to society.
Teachers: The Architects of Tomorrow—or Victims of a Broken System?
Teachers are the soul of education. Yet in Pakistan, many are underpaid, overburdened, and undervalued. In some areas, they are appointed through bribes or political affiliations, not merit.
- Thousands of teachers receive salaries without showing up.
- Brilliant teachers who walk kilometers to reach their schools are ignored and unsupported.
- Teachers’ unions, instead of fighting for quality, often become tools for politics.
But this can be changed. Empowered, trained, and accountable teachers can transform communities. When teachers rise, nations rise.
Private Schooling: Savior or a System of Profit?
With the failure of public education, private schools rushed in. Initially, they offered a lifeline. Today, many have become part of a profit-driven, unregulated empire.
- Exorbitant fees
- Commercialization of learning
- Pressure on students for grades, not learning
- Teacher exploitation
Education has become a business, not a mission. And in this market, the poor child remains uninvited.
Is this the system we want, where wealth buys wisdom, and the poor are left in darkness?
Education as a Bridge to Social Justice
Education is the most powerful tool to:
- Break the cycle of poverty
- Challenge gender inequality
- Fight extremism and ignorance
- Uplift marginalized communities
- Create informed citizens and peaceful societies
Consider these examples:
Ayesha from Khairpur
Born to a family of farm laborers, Ayesha studied in a village under a tree. Today, she’s a nursing student in Karachi, committed to returning and building a rural health center.
Tariq from Larkana
A dishwasher in a roadside hotel, Tariq was taken in by a local literacy NGO. Now, he attends school and dreams of becoming a police officer to protect others like him.
Munneza from Sukkur
With no school nearby and limited transport, Fatima learned Urdu and English using solar-powered digital tablets provided by a local tech NGO. She now teaches other girls in her neighborhood.
Solutions: From Rhetoric to Real Change
We must move beyond slogans. Education reform requires a national awakening. Here’s how we begin:
- Declare a National Education Emergency
Make 100% enrollment and literacy a non-negotiable national mission.
- 2. Audit Ghost Schools and Teachers
Use technology, geo-tagging, and independent audits to eliminate fraud.
- Revamp the Public Education System
Invest in infrastructure, modern curriculum, teacher training, and governance.
- Digital Equity
Provide solar-powered learning kits, tablets, and internet in rural regions.
- Empower Teachers
Train them, protect their dignity, and reward excellence.
- Civic and Peace Education
Incorporate tolerance, ethics, history, and critical thinking into curricula.
- Support Girls’ Education
Build toilets, hostels, safe transport, and community sensitization programs.
- Engage Civil Society
Encourage NGOs, youth volunteers, and retired professionals to join the mission.
The Role of Technology
Post-COVID, the digital divide became brutally clear. While some children in cities attended Zoom classes, millions in villages slid into darkness. But this challenge can become a breakthrough.
- AI-powered apps can teach languages and STEM subjects in local dialects.
- Radio and TV lessons can reach homes where schools do not.
- Mobile learning vans can travel to remote areas with smart classrooms.
Technology is not a silver bullet, but if combined with political will and social justice, it can revolutionize education access.
Corruption: The Silent Killer of Dreams
Pakistan’s education budget is not small—it is poorly used.
- Politically backed contractors build schools without roofs.
- Textbooks are printed with mistakes and pocketed money.
- Bureaucrats embezzle funds, while children sit on broken desks.
Until we treat education corruption as a crime—not a minor offense—we will remain stuck in this cycle of waste and betrayal.
Global Perspectives: Where Pakistan Stands
Countries like Rwanda and Bangladesh, despite challenges, have made remarkable educational strides. Why not us?
- Rwanda, post-genocide, made education the spine of its recovery.
- Vietnam, with fewer resources than Pakistan, boasts 95% literacy.
- Bangladesh introduced female stipends and grassroots schools to combat dropout rates.
We have the potential. We lack the urgency.
Who Must Act?
- Government: Put education above politics, defense, and personal gain.
- Parents: Even in hardship, recognize education as sacred.
- Youth: Be the torchbearers. Volunteer, tutor, advocate.
- Media: Highlight success stories, expose failure.
- Civil society: Build coalitions that hold governments accountable.
Conclusion: Education Is Freedom
The real wealth of nations is not oil, arms, or gold—but educated, empowered people.
The story of education in Pakistan is not just a crisis of policy—it is a crisis of vision. The literacy rate is not a statistic; it is a mirror to who we are, what we value, and where we are headed.
Every child out of school is a story of betrayal, every girl denied education is a lost revolution, every corrupt deal is a dream deferred.
Let us not wait for change. Let us be the change.
So one day, not just in a forgotten Urdu book, but in our streets, schools, and hearts, we can write:
“Jahalat ka khatma – 100% literacy rate.”
Not a slogan. Not a dream. But a reality lived by every child in this land.
Read: Bridging Urban-Rural Gaps in Sindh
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Abdullah Soomro, penname Abdullah Usman Morai, hailing from Moro town of Sindh, province of Pakistan, is based in Stockholm Sweden. Currently he is working as Groundwater Engineer in Stockholm Sweden. He did BE (Agriculture) from Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam and MSc water systems technology from KTH Stockholm Sweden as well as MSc Management from Stockholm University. Beside this he also did masters in journalism and economics from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Mirs, Sindh. He is author of a travelogue book named ‘Musafatoon’. His second book is in process. He writes articles from time to time. A frequent traveler, he also does podcast on YouTube with channel name: VASJE Podcast.
