In a significant move to address the educational challenges facing Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a 19-member taskforce dedicated to resolving the national education emergency. Among the esteemed members of this taskforce is Dr Farid Panjwani, Dean of the Institute for Educational Development (IED) at Aga Khan University (AKU).
The national education emergency was declared by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on May 7, 2024, in response to the alarming statistics indicating that out of 63 million school-age children in Pakistan, approximately 26 million are out of school.
Only half of grade 5 students who attend school can read a story in Urdu and even fewer can understand a simple English sentence. Less than half can handle even basic division problems. Quality education is a challenge as only ten percent of the 266 higher education institutions in Pakistan meet good quality standards.
Dr Panjwani expressed his commitment to this crucial task, stating, "It is an honour to be appointed to the taskforce. The educational challenges we face are immense, but I am optimistic that with collaborative efforts, we can devise effective strategies to improve the quality of education for all children in Pakistan."
The taskforce, chaired by the Prime Minister himself, includes key federal ministers, provincial education ministers and secretaries, and representatives from international organizations such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, UNICEF, UNESCO, and others. The federal secretary will serve as the convener, with the World Bank country head acting as the co-convener.
Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, President and Vice Chancellor of AKU, also commented on this development, saying, "AKU is always keen to support the government, and we commend the Prime Minister for calling upon AKU and its expert, Prof. Farid Panjwani. AKU's collaboration with the government in this critical endeavour aligns with AKU-IED's core objective of strengthening Pakistan's education system. We eagerly anticipate the taskforce making a significant impact on enhancing educational outcomes nationwide."
The taskforce's mandate includes assessing the current education system, identifying obstacles to achieving literacy targets, and recommending projects to improve the quality of education. It will also focus on policymaking for government schools and the education of underprivileged children, aiming to make critical decisions to elevate the standards of education across the country.
With the combined expertise and dedication of its members, the taskforce aims to develop and implement comprehensive strategies to address Pakistan's educational crisis and ensure a brighter future for its children.