EDUCATION shapes the destiny of a nation. Sadly, Pakistan’s public education sector is experiencing a national emergency with an estimated 25.37m out-of-school children. Prepared by the Pakistan Institute of Education with the Ministry of Education and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Pakistan’s Non-Formal Education Report 2023-24, states that, with adaptable and accessible learning opportunities for these children, NFE has emerged as an essential substitute. The report says that 35,427 NFE centres serve 1,290,009 learners, showing a remarkable increase of 20pc in enrolment, and also observes that the OOSC number “has risen alarmingly, influenced by the impacts of Covid-19 and recent floods.” At a time when the World Economic Forum ranks the country close to the bottom in educational attainment and economic participation, the NFE alternative is a ray of hope.

For Pakistan to matter in the global knowledge economy, it must tread the path defined in the NFE document. For starters, it advocates the expansion of Accelerated Learning Programmes, focusing on the growth of ALP (Middle-Tech) courses for high retention rates, and academic and vocational skills. Comprehensive and updated data compilation is central to strengthened non-formal education, improved regional discrepancies and for the consolidation of youth and adult literacy. The government’s commitment to making Pakistan economically relevant in a knowledge-based global environment must become visible in the Federal Non-Formal Education Policy 2025 and the National Action Plan for Non-Formal Education 2025. The lofty aim of ‘Zero Out-of-School Children’ will remain a pipe dream if the socioeconomic barriers to girls’ education persist and education spending is not prioritised. Moreover, the state, under Article 24-A, is responsible for educating each child up to age 16.Decades of disregard towards education investment have brought us to a point where the constitutional right of millions stands violated. It is high time ambitious declarations are transformed into concrete realities. We cannot lose another generation to darkness.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2025