Zeeshan Haider
The economic, social, and political progress of any country depends largely on the quality of its education system. Nations that fail to invest in education—the most fundamental pillar of development—inevitably lag behind in every sphere of life. History has repeatedly proven that education is the cornerstone of national progress and prosperity. Therefore, providing free and quality education is one of the foremost responsibilities of any government.
Unfortunately, Pakistan’s education sector continues to face serious challenges. UNESCO’s recent report has exposed the weaknesses of our education system and highlighted several alarming issues. According to the report, the literacy rate among people aged ten years and above has increased only marginally, from 61 percent to 63 percent, reflecting an annual growth of merely two percent. The report further reveals that thousands of public schools across all four provinces, as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, lack basic facilities. Some schools do not have toilets, while others are without furniture. In many institutions, there are no teachers, electricity, boundary walls, or even proper roofs. Several schools lack textbooks, and in many cases, students do not even have adequate seating arrangements.
Keeping these realities in view, the government’s declaration of an educational emergency has largely remained a paper exercise. Pakistan’s education system has yet to align itself with modern global standards. Developed countries allocate around seven percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to education, whereas Pakistan continues to spend only a small portion of its budget on this vital sector. This is one of the primary reasons why millions of children are still deprived of their fundamental right to education. It is a bitter reality that instead of significantly increasing the education budget, successive governments have often reduced it.
Even after seventy-eight years of independence, Pakistan has failed to establish a clear direction for its education system. At different times, we have attempted to emulate the educational models of various countries without developing a sustainable system tailored to our own national needs. Every new government has sought to reshape the education system according to its own priorities, resulting in a lack of continuity in educational policies. Consequently, educational standards have steadily declined, leaving the country behind in many areas of development. One of the biggest reasons for the deterioration of education in Pakistan is the absence of a uniform education system. The class divide has caused irreparable damage to our educational structure. Children from affluent families enjoy access to world-class educational opportunities, while those belonging to middle- and lower-income families have limited access to quality education. This disparity has widened social inequalities and deprived countless talented students of opportunities to succeed.
In this context, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has introduced the Nawaz Sharif Eminence Schools under the Punjab Education Foundation. Alongside several other public welfare initiatives, this project aims to modernize the education system in accordance with the demands of the digital age. It can rightly be regarded as a positive step toward improving Pakistan’s declining educational standards.
The project represents a significant milestone, particularly for districts, tehsils, and underdeveloped regions of Punjab. These schools feature spacious campuses, state-of-the-art computer laboratories, well-designed classrooms, smart classrooms, STEM laboratories, digital learning systems, and a modern governance framework. Such facilities have the potential to transform Pakistan’s education system and bring it closer to international standards.
One of the most remarkable features of the Nawaz Sharif Eminence Schools is that children from both affluent and underprivileged backgrounds can study together without discrimination. In terms of infrastructure and educational facilities, these schools rival many leading private institutions. Their modern design and technological resources give the impression of schools found in developed European countries.
The successful implementation of this ambitious initiative has also been supported by Shoaib Awan, Chairman of the Punjab Education Foundation. His dedicated efforts have played a vital role in making the project a success. Under his leadership, hundreds of underperforming schools have been brought under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements. Today, more than four million students are receiving education in these institutions, which have been upgraded to meet modern educational standards.
Other provinces should also take inspiration from the Punjab Education Foundation’s model and implement comprehensive educational reforms on an urgent basis. Every child, regardless of socioeconomic background, deserves access to quality education.
One of Pakistan’s longstanding challenges has been the discontinuation of educational initiatives whenever governments change. Instead of building upon successful policies introduced by previous administrations, successive governments often abandon them for political reasons. This lack of continuity has prevented the country from establishing a unified and effective education system, the consequences of which are being borne by the entire nation today.
The shortcomings of Pakistan’s education system must now be addressed as a matter of national priority. Increased investment in education, policy continuity, improved teacher training, and the implementation of a uniform, modern education system are essential if Pakistan is to achieve sustainable development. The country cannot move confidently toward progress and prosperity until every child has equal access to quality education.
