More than 25 million children in Pakistan remain out of school despite the federal government’s declaration of a national education emergency over two years ago, according to a new policy review by the Civil Services Academy (CSA). The report says the country continues to face one of the world’s largest education crises due to chronic underfunding, weak governance, fragmented policymaking, and poor implementation of reforms.
The comparative policy review examined provincial education strategies under the National Education Action Plan (NEAP) 2026. While it acknowledged that provinces have introduced ambitious roadmaps to improve access to education, it stressed that the biggest challenge lies in effectively implementing those plans and turning policy commitments into measurable outcomes.
According to the report, Pakistan currently has between 25.1 million and 26 million out-of-school children, despite Article 25-A of the Constitution guaranteeing free and compulsory education for all children. The study attributes the crisis to decades of structural problems, including rapid population growth, widespread poverty, limited public investment, and weaknesses in governance that have slowed education sector reforms.
Punjab bears the country’s largest education burden, with an estimated 9.6 million to 10.4 million out-of-school children. The Punjab School Education Department’s 2026 baseline report, cited in the study, states that 6.4 million children have never enrolled in school, while another 3.16 million have dropped out, highlighting that keeping children in school is as important as increasing enrollment.
The report also identifies province-specific challenges across Pakistan. Sindh continues to face high dropout rates after primary education alongside recurring climate-related disruptions. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa struggles with security concerns, difficult geographical terrain, and a shortage of female teachers, while Balochistan remains affected by weak institutions, inactive schools, and scattered populations that make education delivery more difficult.
Although Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir report comparatively higher enrollment rates, the CSA says educational inequalities remain within those regions. The report concludes that while the national education emergency has increased political attention on the issue, Pakistan’s education crisis requires stronger implementation, improved governance, sustained investment, and province-specific solutions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
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