THE International Day of Education, which the world observed recently (Jan 24), once again underlined the lack of reasons for Pakistan to celebrate on this critical count. The country`s public spending on education currently stands at 1.91 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP), which is the lowest in the South Asian region.

The figure is alarmingly below the global average of 3.8pc and falls far short of the benchmark of 4pc recommended by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

Distressingly, Pakistan`s spending on education has been on a downward trajectoryin recentyears, declining from 2.2pc of GDP in 2019 to 2.1pc in 2020 and further down to 1.7pc in 2021.Education is a fundamental human right, and the eradication of illiteracy along with the provision offree education up to the secondary level are among the core commitments the state has made through the country`s Constitution.

Yet, according to a 2022 report by the United Nations Children`s Fund (Unicef), approximately 22.8 million children aged 5-16 years in Pakistan were not attending school.

This staggering figure represents the world`s second-highest number of out-ofschool children, accounting for roughly 44pc of the total school-age population.

Alarmingly, an updated report by the Pak Alliance for Maths and Science (PAMS) in August 2024 placed this figure even higher, at 25.3 million.

Undoubtedly, the chronic underfunding of education has far-reaching consequences for Pakistan`s literacy rate, school infrastructure, and the overall quality of education. Unsurprisingly, the country`s education system ranks among the lowest globally.

Despite declaring an education emergency in May 2024, the combined budget allocations of the federal and provincial governments for the 2024-25 fiscal stand at a mere Rs103.781 billion.

This paltry allocation only reflects the government`s lack of genuine commitment to education despite its repeated claims to the contrary.

These troubling statistics underscore the urgent need for increased investment and systemic reforms to tackle the high number of out-of-school children and improve educational outcomes.

It is no wonder that the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) report called for immediate and targeted reforms to address this crisis. Pakistan ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of theChild (UNCRC) back in November 1990, renewing its pledge to provide inclusive and equitable education to all children.

However, successive governments` apathy towards the abysmal state of education has remained evident.

This issue demands immediate and sustained attention of the government, not only to secure the country`s future, but also to uphold the fundamental right to education for one and all in the country.

Hussain Ahmad Siddiqui Islamabad