KARACHI: Dr Mahboobul Haq, Chief, Perspective Planning Section, has revealed that 80 per cent of primary school children drop out by the time they reach the fifth class. Speaking at the NIPA, he said this single factor was the biggest hurdle in the way of achieving universal literacy in the country.

Dr Haq indicated that the Government may shortly undertake detailed investigations to find out the causes of the discontinuance of studies by such a large percentage of school children. Emphasis, he added, should be placed on the retention of school children rather than expansion of the schooling facilities so that investment was not wasted. Some of the efforts made to diagnose the causes of the students dropping out of schools indicated that the present facilities were poor and the teachers ill-paid, Dr Haq said.

The economist also reviewed the economic progress made during the last 15 years. The contribution of agriculture in total output had declined from 56 per cent in 1950 to 43 per cent in 1960, while the share of agriculture exports fell from 90 per cent to 50 per cent. Agriculture provides employment to 60 per cent of the population against 75 per cent in 1950.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2014