The Government of Pakistan has been trying to develop an outstanding educational system in the country. The government‘s statistics showed that the total number of enrolments at national level during FY2017 reached at 48.062 million as against to 46.223 million during FY2016. This explains a growth of 3.97 percent and it was predicted to further increase to 50.426 million during FY2018. Statistics also showed that the total number of institutes reached at 260.8 thousands in FY2017 as against to 252.8 thousands during previous year and the number of institutes were predicted to rise to 267.7 thousands in FY2018. The total number of teachers during FY2017 was 1.726 million as against to 1.630 million during previous year explaining a rise of 5.9 percent.
This number of teachers was predicted to rise further to 1.808 million during the year 2018. The Government of Pakistan mentioned in the statement that the Federal Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) FY2018 has allocated an amount of Rs 2.96 billion for 10 on-going and 3 new projects of the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training. An amount of Rs 3.18 billion has also been offered for 13 on-going & new education related projects to Finance and Capital Administration & Development Divisions. The implementation of PSDP funded projects will have a lasting impact on the inclusive socio-economic development.
Provincial annual development programs (ADPs) fy2018
The statistics also explained that the provincial governments have prioritized the sectors such as provision of missing facilities, up gradation of girls and boys primary schools to middle, high and secondary levels, construction of new boys and girls schools and colleges, provision of scholarship through endowment funds and scholarship schemes and many more schemes/programs.
PUNJAB — The government‘s statistics showed that the during FY2018, Punjab government has allocated Rs 74.10 billion as compared to last year’s Rs 67.82 billion explaining a rise 9.26 percent for 534 on-going and 989 new development projects for education. This includes Rs 53.36 billion for school education, Rs 18.03 billion for higher education, Rs 1.06 billion for special education and Rs 1.65 billion for literacy.
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SINDH — During FY2018, Sindh government has allocated Rs 24.03 billion as against to Rs 20.07 billion previous year explaining a rise of 19.73 percent for 329 on-going and 132 new development projects for education. This includes Rs 19.15 billion for Education & Literacy, Rs 0.21 billion for Special Education, Rs 1.06 billion for Sindh TEVTA and Rs 3.60 billion for Universities and boards.
KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA – The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) has raised funds allocation to Rs 20.3 billion in FY2018 from Rs 17.3 billion in FY2017 explaining an increase of 17.34 percent for 103 ongoing and 46 new development projects for development of education. It includes Rs 1.92 for primary education, Rs 12.08 billion for secondary education and Rs 6.32 billion for higher education.
BALOCHISTAN – The statistics also showed that the government of Balochistan has allocated Rs 9.16 billion for FY2018 as compared to Rs 6.65 billion previous year, explaining a rise of 37.7 percent for 190 ongoing and 141 new development projects for education. Out of the total allocation, an amount of Rs 0.855 billion has been allocated for primary education, Rs 0.535 billon for middle education, Rs 3.26 billion for secondary education, Rs 2.65 billion for college education, Rs 0.693 billion for university education, Rs 1.05 billion for General education and 0.121 billion for technical education.
Higher education
Statistics also revealed that the higher education allocation in the budget is woefully insufficient at only 0.26 percent of GDP. No doubt, Pakistan has a large higher education system with over 190 recognized private and public sector universities. Unluckily, no Pakistani university is among the top 600 universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019. The enrollment in higher education is almost 9 percent of the eligible Pakistan population. This is an indication that there is a definite need to improve Pakistan’s higher education system.
According to official facts, 64 percent of Pakistanis are below the age of 30. Any higher educational reform must be planned to take this significant age cohort into account. It is said that the ratio of PhD members of the total faculty is below 30 percent. Poor Pakistanis are unable to afford to private sector universities. Thus, there is need to rise public sector universities. It is also recorded that since the inception of HEC Overseas PhD Scholarship Program, 700 Pakistani PhD scholars are studying in German universities, while 400 students have completed their studies and returned to Pakistan.