ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Economic Survey 2021-22 has reported that last year only 1.77 per cent of GDP was spent on the education sector while the literacy rate was recorded at 63 per cent.
“Cumulative education expenditure by federal and provincial governments stood at 1.77 per cent of GDP (Revised Estimates) in FY 2011. Education-related expenditure witnessed a growth of 9.7 per cent during FY2011, reaching Rs 988 billion from Rs 901 billion.
Highlighting the literacy rate, the survey states that the Pakistan Social and Standard of Living Measurement Survey was not conducted during 2021-22 due to the upcoming Population and Housing Census 2022.
Therefore, the survey states that the latest available survey data regarding Gross Enrollment Rate (GER) and Net Enrollment Rate (NER) may be considered for analysis.
“However, as per the Labor Force Survey 2020-21, the literacy rate trends show 62.8 per cent in 2020-21 (compared to 62.4 per cent in 2018-19), males as compared to females (from 73.0 per cent to 73.4 per cent). more (from 51.5pc to 51.9pc),” read the survey.
The economic survey shows the literacy rate to be around 63 percent.
There has been an increase in the literacy rate in both rural (53.7 pc to 54.0 pc) and urban areas (76.1 pc to 77.3 pc). According to the survey report, the gender gap seems to be closing with time. “The literacy rate has increased in all the provinces, Punjab (66.1 per cent to 66.3 per cent), Sindh (61.6 per cent to 61.8 per cent), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (52.4 per cent to 55.1 per cent) and Balochistan (53.9 per cent to 54.5 per cent). ,
development work
An amount of Rs 9.7 billion was allocated in PSDP FY2022 for 24 ongoing and four new development projects of the Federal Ministry of Education and Vocational Training for FY2022, the survey said. An amount of Rs 2.8 billion was also allocated for six ongoing and three new education-related development projects sponsored by the Finance, Defence, Housing and Construction, and Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan divisions.
It said that as part of our commitment to meet Goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals, various initiatives have been taken at the federal and provincial levels to raise the standards of education in terms of quality education. The survey also pointed out that a Single National Curriculum (SNC) has been introduced to reduce inequalities in the country’s education.
It said that the implementation of SNCs has already started in Islamabad, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan from the academic year 2021. In Balochistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, implementation will start in the academic year 2022. The survey stated that Sindh was an active one. Part of the evolution of SNC. However, for implementation, discussions are on with the Sindh government, claimed the survey. It is pertinent to note here that Sindh has rejected the adoption of the SNC.
Highlighting the challenges, the survey said that while SNC is a major reform in the country, there are some challenges to implement it in true sense. Capacity building of existing teachers in these challenges; Induction of new teachers as per the requirements; and upliftment of educational facilities in remote areas of Pakistan.
“Pakistan’s literacy, enrollment and other educational indicators have improved over the years. The government is focusing a lot on improving both the quality and coverage of education through effective policy interventions and increased allocation of resources, but the required reforms and reforms in the education sector cannot be achieved without the active participation of the private sector. Is. Survey completed.
Published in Dawn, June 10, 2022