ISLAMABAD, Jan 28: A latest survey on education reveals how alarming the situation has become and how desperately the sector needs remedial reforms.

The survey report was launched by the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) Pakistan, on Monday, at the planning commission office.

According to the survey, as many as 75 per cent students in Class-I dropout before Class-X (Matric). Eighty-one per cent Class-III and 52 per cent Class-V students cannot read Class-II level English sentences.

Similarly, 56 per cent Class-V, 41.9 per cent Class-VI and 33 per cent Class-VII students cannot calculate Class-III level three-digit divisions.

Director programmes ASER Baela Raza Jamil, while briefing the participants, said that information was collected from 5,594 schools – 3,934 government schools and 1,660 private schools.

The survey found that 30 per cent government schools and 88 per cent private schools were offering co-education, she added.

The survey further revealed that students of private schools had more access to tuition compared to government schools.

The report states that 25 per cent of all private school children were taking paid tuition compared to six per cent of students studying in government schools.

The survey explained that as many as 46 per cent of surveyed government high schools and 38 per cent private schools had functional computer labs.

While 57 per cent government high schools and 53 per cent private high schools had library books available for students to use in the schools premises.

The survey of government and private primary schools showed that 50 per cent public and 25 per cent private primary schools in the country had not provided functional toilet facilities to their students.

However, surprisingly, the survey reported that government schools across Pakistan had more qualified teachers than in private schools.

It also found that 78 per cent of 83,746 mothers and 53 per cent fathers of students had not completed even primary schooling.

However, Minister for Education and Professional Training Sheikh Waqas Akram said that the government is committed to devising policies according to ground realities.

“We will assure that all the commitments and announcements of the government regarding promotion of education would be implemented,” he said.

While Chairperson of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Farzana Raja stated that ‘Waseela-e-Taleem’ programme had been initiated to provide education to those people who had been deprived because of financial reasons.

“BISP will provide educational facilities to every child who wants to get an education but the private sector should also come forward to contribute, as it is not an easy task,” she said.

Member of the National Assembly, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, who belongs to PML-N, said that the country cannot progress without reaching hundred per cent literacy rate.

“PML-N has given preference to education sector in Punjab and if the party forms government in the centre, the PML-N will promote educational sector all over the country,” he claimed.

On the other hand, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Dr Nadeemul Haque, while talking to participants said that the survey helps the Planning Commission to set its priorities and release funds for the projects, according to requirements.

The survey was conducted in 136 districts of rural areas and six districts of urban areas.

Provincial ranking

Balochistan has the highest percentage of out-of-school children.

Punjab has the best and Fata the worst performance in terms of average assessment results for the three (English, Arithmetic and Language) assessments.

Punjab is the region with the highest percentage of primary schools with useable facilities.

Sindh has the highest percentage of children absent from school.

Fata has the highest percentage of teachers present in schools.

Balochistan has the highest percentage of young children (3 to 5 years) not attending pre-primary education.