Introduction
Despite twenty years of reforms, Pakistan’s education sector continues to be trapped in enduring structural difficulties. Minor advancements in literacy, accessibility, and infrastructure have occurred; nonetheless, the overall progress remains constrained in both scope and impact. The nation has yet to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which aims to ensure universal access to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities.[1]
The 2023 Census indicates that Pakistan’s national literacy rate is 60.65%, reflecting a modest increase from 45% in 2000.[2] Fig 01 also highlights, a significant disparity in literacy between men and women: 68% of males are literate, whereas just 53% of women are literate. In 2023, the number of out-of-school children (OOSC) in Pakistan has risen to 26 million, positioning the country as having the second-largest OOSC population globally, following Nigeria. Furthermore, expenditure on education has declined to a mere 0.8% of GDP in 2024–25, much below the UNESCO-recommended range of 4–6%.[3]
