The crisis of Pakistan out-of-school children continues to pose a major challenge to the country’s education system, with more than 25 million children still deprived of formal education. A policy review by the Civil Services Academy (CSA) says decades of inadequate funding, weak governance, fragmented administration and unequal provincial capacity have prevented meaningful progress despite government initiatives.
According to the report, more than two years after the federal government declared a National Education Emergency, efforts to bring children back into classrooms have produced limited results. Although provinces have prepared education roadmaps under the National Education Action Plan (NEAP) 2026, the report says implementation remains the biggest obstacle rather than policy formulation.
The study notes that Pakistan’s education crisis has developed over several decades. Historical data cited from the Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE) indicates that poverty, rapid population growth, underinvestment in education and weak public institutions have steadily increased the number of children excluded from the education system.
The report, prepared by five Policy Analysis Groups at the Pakistan Administrative Service Campus, reviewed education policies in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad Capital Territory, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It estimates that between 25.1 million and 26 million children remain out of school despite the constitutional guarantee of free and compulsory education under Article 25-A.
The review highlights that every province faces unique educational challenges. Punjab struggles with the country’s largest number of out-of-school children, Sindh continues to face learning losses and climate-related disruptions, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is affected by security concerns and shortages of female teachers, while Balochistan faces institutional weaknesses, inactive schools and vast geographical distances.
Punjab carries the largest education burden, with an estimated 9.6 million to 10.4 million out-of-school children. According to the Punjab School Education Department’s 2026 baseline report, around 6.4 million children have never enrolled in school, while another 3.16 million dropped out before completing their education, highlighting challenges in both enrolment and student retention.
The Pakistan out-of-school children crisis remains one of the country’s most pressing development issues. The report concludes that achieving universal education will require stronger governance, increased investment, better implementation of education policies and coordinated efforts by both federal and provincial governments.
