25 million children still out-of-school across country, PAC informed

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was informed on Monday by the secretary for Ministry of Federal Education that as many as 25 million children in the country are still out of school. The PAC meeting was held here under the chairmanship of Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah to discuss the matter related to audit objections on the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training for fiscal year 2016-17.
Federal Secretary for Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Aamir Ashraf Khawaja responding to a question of the chairman committee said that around 25 million children are out of schools at primary level at present. The panel was further informed that only 12 percent school goingchildren are able to join secondary and higher secondary level of education, while around 50 percent of the children are not able to continue education after primary level. Shah said, "As a nation all of us are responsible for deteriorating educational system."
The meeting was informed by Director General Basic Education Community Schools (BECS), Mohammad Abbas Khan that 12,304 BECS are functioning across the country with enrollment of 493,972 students at present. He said that in BECS per year educational expenditure of a student stands at around Rs 1,449 which as compared with the formal education system is three times less as in formal educational system per year cost stands at Rs 5,000.
The panel was further informed that all the basic schools are operating in rural areas wherein the administration has so far failed to provide chairs to any of these schools. Responding to a question, the officials of education ministry said that in rural areas of Pakistan, a student gives 150 hours to study per year while in developed areas, a student gives 850 hours to studies annually.
The panel was informed that there are 146,000 formal schools operating in the country. Pakistan's literacy rate stands at 58% while 60% of the total national population is of 24 years of age. Audit officials informed the panel that the national kitty faced Rs 57 million financial losses as the government failed to invest endowment fund of 540 schools in Gilgit.
The ministry officials said that this amount was allocated through the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltsitan Affairs as a result of an agreement. The amount was deposited in the National Bank of Pakistan and was not spent. The panel asked the ministry officials to hold an inquiry into the issue and submit a report with the panel within 30 days.
Syed Khursheed Shah said that in Pakistan 38 percent of schools going children are dropping out after matriculation, while only 12 percent of the students complete graduation level. He said that almost 40 percent of primary level students are studying in shelters, adding that one teacher is appointed for 39 students.
The panel expressed serious anger over the federal sectary education and other officials over their failure to satisfy the committee on various education related questions. The panel asked the secretary education to provide all the record on basic education during the next meeting of the PAC. He was also directed to come with proper preparedness in the next meeting; otherwise, stern action will be taken.