THE importance of education cannot be overemphasised. According to the Human Capital Theory by Gary Becker, investing in education pays off in terms of higher wages. The developed world spends huge amounts on education. The United States, for instance, spends approximately one-third of Pakistan’s GDP.

The root cause behind all the problems of Pakistan is the lack of attention having been paid to the critical education sector. In the recent budget, the share of education affairs and services is only Rs91.970 billion, which is only one per cent of the total expenditure, whereas the Higher Education Commission (HEC) budget is Rs42.4 billion. In contrast, provinces and other subsidies in current expenditure stand to get Rs682 billion. This shows the level of importance we give to education.

The government must understand that education leads to better productivity, economic growth and living standards. It is one of the most powerful instruments for reducing poverty and inequality. Hence, it should be accessible to everyone.

The government must take effective steps to uplift the underdeveloped areas of all the provinces and educate the lower segments of society in order to alleviate their lot. The quality of education should be the same for everyone at least till the secondary level across the country.

Expenditure on education should be made affordable for every family in the country so that it may send children to schools. Furthermore, the accountability of faculty should be strictly and professionally ensured in all public-sector institutions.

Asif Khan
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2021