Pakistan faces significant educational challenges, especially for girls

Pakistan faces significant challenges in its education system, especially for girls. Currently, it has the second-highest number of out-of-school children in the world, with approximately 22.8 million children aged 5-16 not attending school. This accounts for 44% of the population in this age group. At the primary level, about 10.7 million boys and 8.6 million girls are enrolled. However, this number drops sharply to 3.6 million boys and 2.8 million girls in lower secondary education. Disparities exist, particularly in regions like Sindh and Balochistan, where many girls do not receive an education. Education in Pakistan is structured into six levels: pre-school, primary, middle, high, intermediate, and university. Unlike India, boys and girls are taught separately after primary school. Many schools are designated for either boys or girls. The pre-school system begins for children as young as three years old and continues until age five. Subjects taught in primary education include Urdu, English, Mathematics, and Islamic Studies. Moreover, schools in Pakistan have strict dress codes for girls. It is mandatory for them to wear a dupatta or scarf. Wearing short sleeves, bangles, or heavy jewelry is generally not allowed. Students may face fines if they do not comply with these rules.