The Institute of Social and Policy Sciences (I-SAPS) presented its report regarding the financing of education in Pakistan during 2015-16. As it was expected, report unveiled the sorry state of affairs of education in Pakistan. Pakistan spends least in education in comparison of all other South Asian countries. To the surprise of no one, the report stated that Pakistan spends a measly 2.14 per cent of is GDP on education. Despite of second largest population of the world, India is spending 4.9 per cent of its GDP on education.
Though government has set ambitious plan to raise the literacy level to 88 per cent to achieve the Millennium Development Goal, but the literacy rate in Pakistan is at 58 per cent currently. This fact does not portray the complete picture as a huge portion of the current budget is used for meeting administrative expenses such as employee salaries and only 15 per cent of the budget is set aside for development projects. Lack of funds for education and ignoring the education sector in Pakistan has become a serious issue, putting the future of young generation at risk.
Another issue related to education in Pakistan is the quality of education. Students of Higher secondary schools are unaware with basic arithmetic and ability to read and write properly. It is a fact that no country of the world enters in the list of developed countries until it starts spending on educating its people.
Irony is despite of surveys showing dismal condition of education in the country, concerned officials are paying no heed for the betterment of education in Pakistan.
Education is the cure of all ills plaguing this country.