perspective-education - Page 7

Insights From the 2023 Census Report

The 2023 Census conducted by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics released its complete report in July 2024 indicates that the total population of Pakistan is 240 million out of which the population of children under 18 is 112 Million (47% of the total population). Children Population (under 18) Population under 18 Total Male Female Transgender Pakistan 112,472,700 58,099,978 54,370,121 2,601…

Transport For Schooling

A JUDGE at the Lahore High Court recently ordered that schools should arrange for and organise transport for schoolchildren by the end of the winter break. The order came in the hearings on the case about smog in Lahore. The use of public transport for schooling is expected to reduce vehicular traffic…

The Age Of Consent And The Borders Of Belief

ICT Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2025 marks a pivotal step toward a…

Ghost Schools

KARACHI: Apropos the letter “Ghost Teachers” published on September 19, 2024, the…

Climate Emergency

THE federal cabinet’s decision to declare a climate and agriculture emergency in the country was overdue given the magnitude of devastation resulting from the floods sweeping across Punjab and beyond. The images of inundated fields in thousands of villages, displaced families, destroyed homes and dead livestock underscore the seriousness of the catastrophe. Prime Minister…

School Closures

WHEN schools are closed, especially at times when they are expected to be open, the loss in terms of educational and learning outcomes can be substantial. Out of the 365 days that make up the year, we get only 160 days or so for teaching and learning time, thanks to…

Regional Climate Risks

WE in South Asia are the children of the monsoon, as described by David Jiménez in his 2008 book. While governments may not always recognise it, we are bound by an ecosystem that inextricably links our resilience through shared climate realities from one end of South Asia to the other.…

Between Books and Screens

A SCHOOL administrator recently remarked in a tone of resignation that these days many parents would rather have their children remain occupied with academic work than risk letting them venture outside. “The world beyond the gate,” she said, “is no longer safe.” Streets feel more chaotic, parks feel less secure,…

Prevention is Cheaper

Each year, climate-induced disasters cost Pakistan billions of dollars and push millions into deeper poverty. Yet our policies remain stuck in a reactive cycle, waiting for the damage to occur, then scrambling with relief. This approach is not only costly but also destructive to development gains. Prevention is smarter in…

Parent-teacher Bond

TEACHERS and parents are both scrambling to prepare for yet another demanding academic year ahead. However, with the exception of the odd parent orientation at school, they are not engaging in any deep conversations about the students. Most students have not only been out of touch with subject knowledge, they…

A Mirror To The Nation’s Young

The State of Children in Pakistan 2024 report was prepared by and launched on April 30 this year by the National Commission on the Rights of Child (NCRC). Established by the Federal Government on February 28, 2020 as an independent statutory body, the NCRC has the overarching mandate for the…

Education’s Bleak Reality

The literacy rate for Pakistan is among the lowest across the world. At 58 percent, the rate is comparable to that of Nigeria (62pc) and Sudan (60pc), while all South Asian peers rank significantly higher. To address this issue, a common approach has been to argue for greater public investment…

LAW: LOCKED OUT OF JUSTICE

Naheed, a Hafiz-i-Quran from Mirpurkhas and mother of two, has spent the last eight years within prison walls awaiting a decision on her pending appeal. Her embroidery and crochet work, sold through a prison-run sewing centre, sustains her children on the outside. The failure of her case is not rooted…

Childcare In Pakistan: Policies, Practices and Challenges

Family-friendly policies are essential for working parents, especially mothers In recent years, women’s participation in Pakistan’s labour market has increased due to various factors, including economic pressures. Female employment is currently at 23% and is expected to grow as education and job access improve, creating an urgent need for supportive…