One of the fundamental rights that act as a tool for inclusive national and individual progress is education; although Pakistan has made progress in this direction, girls still do not receive sufficient equality in schooling. There are gender inequalities that somehow lead to the unsatisfactory state of education in the country.
Currently, about 13.71 million girls are out of school in Pakistan. However, these impenetrable walls, based more on societal norms and structures, stand between girls and education. Despite remarkable progress in schools and infrastructure and net enrollment ratio, progress in girls’ education has become unsustainable and an obstacle.
Current status of girls’ education
The Pakistan Education Statistics (PES) report for 2022–23 states that approximately 21 million girls are in school in the country, as opposed to 25 million boys. The data shows the gap still exists, with girls 7% less likely to be in school than boys. A total of 41.5% of girls and 34.9% of boys still do not attend school from primary to upper secondary level. These very statistics indicate an urgent need for a greater focus on closing the gaps in access to education that could potentially separate girls and boys.
Differences in school infrastructure also contribute to this problem. Of the 238,718 educational institutions in Pakistan, 65,683 are all-girls, 97,509 are all-boys, and 74,118 are co-educational. This figure shows that facilities for girls’ schools are worse than for boys’ or co-educational schools. In addition, many girls’ schools lack adequate facilities, making it difficult for girls to get a good education.
Key findings: Differences in student numbers and equipment
The PES report outlines several key findings regarding the current state of girls’ education in Pakistan. These findings highlight the challenges girls face in accessing education, as well as the differences between boys and girls in various educational indicators:
Girls out of school: 13.71 million girls out of school in 2022-23. Girls are 7% less likely to be in school than boys, with 41.5% of girls and 34.9% of boys staying out of school from primary to upper secondary level.
