The cost of neglect

The latest figures showing that Pakistan’s primary completion rate has increased to 57 percent in 2024-25 may appear, at first glance, to be a sign of progress. Compared with 51 percent in 2018-19, the increase reflects some improvement in educational access and retention. However, viewed against regional and global standards, these numbers do not represent success; rather, they expose the deeply troubling state of education in Pakistan. A country where only 57 percent of children aged 10 years and above complete primary education cannot claim to be making satisfactory progress. Education remains one of our greatest unresolved challenges. The fact that nearly half of the population in this age group still does not reach primary completion level highlights the consequences of decades of neglect, weak policies, inadequate funding and misplaced national priorities. Our performance becomes even more concerning when compared with South Asian countries such as Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh which have achieved significantly higher primary completion rates, demonstrating that progress is possible even with limited resources when education is treated as a genuine national priority. The gender gap revealed in the figures is another reminder of the scale of the challenge. Male primary completion has increased from 61 percent to 65 percent, while female completion has improved from 42 percent to 48 percent. In rural areas, the situation is even more alarming: male completion stands at 60 percent, while female completion is only 38 percent. These figures reflect persistent barriers including poverty, social constraints, lack of schools and inadequate support systems. The rural-urban divide further demonstrates inequality in our education system. Urban primary completion has increased from 66 percent to 68 percent, but rural areas have moved only from 42 percent to 49 percent. Millions of children living outside major cities continue to face limited educational opportunities. A ch