President Dr. Arif Alvi has emphasized the need for an education emergency in Pakistan to address the issue of 26 million out-of-school children. Speaking at a function to mark World Education Day, the President stressed the importance of devising innovative solutions to tackle this pressing challenge.
Dr. Alvi highlighted the need for drastic measures, such as doubling up on educational institutions and utilizing mosques as centers for learning. He also proposed engaging newly graduated and intermediate students in teaching the out-of-school children by offering them a stipend.
The President acknowledged the efforts of partner organizations and underscored the importance of leveraging their expertise to address the issue. He also emphasized the need to promote online education and extend facilities to professionals, such as doctors and engineers, to encourage them to stay in the country and contribute to its development.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Education, Dr. Alvi expressed concern over the low spending on education, poor pupil-teacher ratio, and lack of basic facilities, which have contributed to the high number of out-of-school children. He emphasized that educating children is crucial for producing a skilled and qualified workforce, rather than mere laborers.
The President appreciated the initiatives taken for children with dyslexia and stressed the need to increase enrollment in higher education, which currently stands at 10-12% in Pakistan, compared to 24% in neighboring countries.
Acknowledgement: Published by Dawn News on 25-01-2024
