Karachi: A shocking revelation has emerged regarding the education sector in Sindh, as 78 lakh children remain out of school, according to a briefing by the School Education Department.
According to the department's data, 3.63 crore children are enrolled in primary schools, while 26 lakh students are studying in elementary schools.
Further statistics indicate that 16 lakh students are enrolled in secondary schools, whereas 4.9 lakh students are pursuing education in higher secondary schools.
According to officials, there are a total of 1.68 crore children aged 5 to 16 years who are enrolled in schools across the province. This includes 52 lakh students in public schools and 9.3 lakh students in Sindh Education Foundation (SEF)-run schools.
Additionally, 10.3 lakh children are receiving education in madrassas, while 40.1 lakh students are enrolled in private schools. Moreover, 60,000 students are studying in non-formal education institutions.
The student census conducted by the School Education Department found that 56.6 lakh children were deprived of school admissions. The province has a total of 15,742 boys' schools, 5,816 girls' schools, and 19,420 co-educational schools. The combined enrollment in primary and secondary schools stands at 52 lakh students.
The gender-wise breakdown reveals that 59% of enrolled students are male, while 41% are female. In primary schools, 32.03 lakh boys and 4.48 lakh girls are studying, whereas in secondary schools, 9.35 lakh boys and 6.31 lakh girls are receiving education.
For the current financial year, the School Education Department's budget has been set at Rs. 424 billion.
