According to the government of Pakistan, education is the foundation of a better future for every child and a strong society. Quality and inclusive education develops skills, promotes economic growth, reduces poverty and strengthens society’s ability to achieve sustainable development. Over the past five decades, education has contributed to around 50 percent of worldwide economic growth and assisted reduce extreme poverty by almost 40 percent. Pakistan’s large youth bulge can be transformed into a productive resource through effective investment in education. However, this requires enhanced access to quality and equity across all levels of education. In the face of demographic changes, technological advancements and governance issues; education remains a major tool for social stability and sustainable development. Recognizing its significance, the present government of Pakistan continues to prioritize the education sector by policy reforms and targeted investments. Provincial initiatives focusing on skills development, expanded access and reduction of regional disparities reflect Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening human capital. In this regard, the National Vocational & Technical Training Commission plays a major role in equipping youth with technical and professional skills to improve national competitiveness and support overseas career opportunities. As global issues such as climate change, conflict, and economic uncertainty continue to grow, education remains a critical investment for economic growth, social stability, and resilience. Through focused implementation of the 5Es framework and the URAAN Pakistan initiative; the government aims to ensure inclusive and quality education for sustainable national development. Pakistan’s education system continues to expand across all levels, with gradual increases in enrolment, chiefly at primary, middle and secondary levels. However, disparities in access and retention still persist.
Pre-Primary Education
Pre-primary education remains a critical component of early childhood development. Pre-primary education generally covers children aged 3–5 years, including prep/katchi classes. At the national level, pre-primary enrolment has decreased by 9.9 percent, from 11.77 million in FY 2022-23 to 10.61 million in FY2023-24. The estimated pre-primary enrolment for FY 2024-25 is expected to be around 10.4 million.
Primary Education (Classes I-V)
Primary education remains the largest segment of the education system. Enrolment continued to increase moderately during FY2025-26, reflecting ongoing policy efforts to enhance access. In FY2023-24, the country recorded 158.71 thousand functional primary schools with 439.73 thousand corresponding teachers. Primary enrolment saw a 3.1 percent increase, rising to 25.38 million students in FY2023-24, up from 24.61 million in FY2022-23. It is estimated to reach approximately 25.72 million in FY 2024- 25.
Middle Education (Classes VI-VIII)
In FY 2023-24, the country had 44.42 thousand middle-level institutions, with 434.9 thousand teachers employed. Middle school enrolment grew by 14.9 percent, reaching 10.8 million students in FY 2023-24, up from 9.4 million in FY 2022-23. Enrolment is projected to increase by 7.4 percent, from 10.8 million to 11.6 million, in FY 2024-25.
Secondary Education (Classes IX-X)
Secondary education continues to expand, with encouraging growth in enrolment. In FY 2023-24, there were 44.9 thousand secondary schools operating across the country, with 827.5 thousand teachers employed. Secondary school enrolment rose by 13 percent, reaching 5.42 million in FY 2023-24, up from 4.72 million in FY 2022-23. It is projected to increase by 6.5 percent, from 5.42 million to 5.80 million, in FY 2024-25.
Higher Secondary Education (Classes XI-XII)
In FY 2023-24, there were 11.3 thousand higher secondary schools/inter colleges with 299.4 thousand teachers nationwide. The overall enrolment in higher secondary education saw a 27 percent increase, reaching 2.97 million students in FY 2023-24, up from 2.33 million in FY 2022-23. It is projected to rise to 3.17 million in FY 2024-25.
Degree Colleges (Classes XIII-XIV)
Higher education institutions are continuing to grow, though enrolment expansion has been relatively slow. It is projected that 0.94 million students will be enrolled in degree colleges in FY 2024-25, up from 0.90 million in 2023-24. In FY 2023-24, there were 2,468-degree colleges, with an estimated 2,383 for FY 2024-25. The number of teachers in degree colleges was 58.31 thousand in FY 2023-24 and is expected to decrease slightly to 57.97 thousand in FY 2024-25.
Universities
There were 239 universities, while overall enrolment in higher education institutions was recorded at 1.96 million in FY 2023-24, reflecting a 1.4 percent increase over the previous year. The enrolment is expected to remain steady in FY 2024-25.
Technical and Vocational Education
Technical and vocational education has gained policy priority, with increased focus on skills development. During FY 2024-25, estimated 4,746 technical and vocational institutes with 51.44 thousand teachers were functional nationally. The enrolment was recorded at 0.46 million in FY 2023-24 compared to 0.45 million in FY 2022-23. Enrolment in technical and vocational institutes remained broadly stable in FY 2024-25.