Over 4.9 Million Children Out of School in KPK

Despite substantial government spending on elementary and secondary education, over 4.9 million children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KP remain out of school, according to the 2023 Digital Population Census. The statistics reveal a significant gender gap, with 1.99 million boys and 2.92 million girls deprived of education, highlighting a concerning trend in access to schooling. The students can know the relevant information of Education Crisis in KP: Over 4.9 Million Children Out of School.

Districts with the Highest Numbers of Out-of-School Children

Several districts in KP report alarming figures of children who are not enrolled in school. The highest numbers are recorded in:

Peshawar – 519,928 children 200,142 boys, 319,767 girls

Swat – 294,320 children 114,918 boys, 179,386 girls

Bajaur – 292,894 children 113,677 boys, 179,210 girls

Dera Ismail Khan – 264,567 children 120,201 boys, 144,361 girls

Mardan – 230,969 children 97,752 boys, 133,215 girls

Bannu – 214,143 children 90,954 boys, 123,188 girls

Khyber District – 213,510 children 80,749 boys, 132,756 girls

Other districts, such as Abbottabad, Kohat, Mansehra, and North Waziristan, also report thousands of out-of-school children, with a higher percentage of girls affected.

Sharp Increase in the Number of Out-of-School Children

The number of children deprived of education in KP has been steadily increasing over the years:

In 2018, a survey by the KP Elementary and Secondary Education Department estimated that 1.8 million children were not in school, despite a Rs227 million budget allocation.

By 2021-2022, data from the Benazir Income Support Programme BISP census indicated a massive rise to 4.7 million.

The 2023 Digital Population Census now reveals that 4.9 million children remain without access to education.

Government’s Response to the Education Emergency

The KP Assembly’s Standing Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education, led by Taj Khan Tarand, has taken notice of the situation, instructing the education department to investigate the reasons behind the crisis and submit a detailed report. However, despite repeated attempts, KP’s Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education, Faisal Tarakai, has not provided any response regarding the governments plans to address this worsening issue.