Education revival brings hope to thousands under privileged as ESP 2025-26 hailed in KP

PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jun, 2026) For years, poverty, socioeconomic barriers, and a lack of educational facilities kept thousands of children away from schools especially in Khyber Pakthunkhwa.

Today, however, stories of hope are emerging across the country including Khyber Pakthunkhwa as government-led education reforms and projects were helping thousands of poor children trade uncertainty for opportunity.

According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan 2025-26, the percentage of out-of-school children (OOSC) has dropped significantly from 38 percent to 28 percent nationwide including Khyber Pakthunkhwa and Balochistan. The improvement is particularly notable in underserved regions, signaling a positive shift in Pakistan's long-standing battle against illiteracy and unemployment.

In Balochistan, where educational deprivation has historically been among the highest in the country, the proportion of out-of-school children declined dramatically from 69 percent to 45 percent. Sindh witnessed a reduction from 47 percent to 39 percent, while Punjab recorded a decline from 32 percent to 21 percent. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also showed progress, with the rate decreasing from 30 percent to 28 percent.

Education experts attributed this turnaround in the education sector to a combination of targeted education reforms, increased funding, scholarship schemes, free textbooks and uniforms, second-shift schooling, and digital initiatives.

"This is a very encouraging development," said former Director Education Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Professor Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim. "Both Federal and provincial governments deserved appreciation for bringing a large number of out-of-school children into the education system."

He said that poverty, high educational expenses, missing facilities, poor transport, expansive books and even corporal punishment had historically contributed to school dropouts, especially in rural communities. Recent reforms, however, have begun addressing these challenges through improved facilities and greater support for disadvantaged families.

One of the flagship initiatives has been the Prime Minister's Laptop Programme, which, as of April 2026, had distributed more than 74,000 laptops to over 407,000 students studying in 156 higher education institutions across Pakistan, including Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Notably, female students in Pakistan accounted for 54 percent of the beneficiaries, reflecting efforts to promote gender inclusion in higher education besides contributing to the country’s development progress.

The federal government's increased investment in the education sector has also played a key role in opening doors of education for out of school children. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) received over Rs 34.9 billion for the implementation of 147 development projects, including ongoing and newly launched schemes aimed at expanding educational access and improving quality in all federating units of Pakistan.

<?php /*?> <?php */?>

The impact was becoming visible in literacy indicators at ESP 2025-26 report as well. National literacy rates have improved, with Punjab recording the highest literacy rate at 68 percent, followed by Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 58 percent each, while Balochistan reached 49 percent.

For many families from Karachi to Khyber and Quetta to Rawalpindi, these positive education reforms have been life-changing. "As a result of government scholarships and free books and uniforms, I enrolled my daughters in school for a better future," said Sumbal Riaz, a resident of Nowshera. Her story mirrors those of thousands of parents who now see education as an attainable dream rather than an unreachable privilege.

Officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said that multiple initiatives have contributed to rising enrollment rates. Provision of free uniforms, stationery, school bags, and the expansion of second-shift schools for out-of-school children have helped alot.

The digital classrooms, science laboratories, educational FM radio channels, subsidized transportation services, and the conversion of thousands of Katchi classes into modern Early Childhood Education (ECE) centers have helped strengthen learning opportunities, particularly in marginalized areas and tribal districts of erstwhile Fata.

Alternative Learning Pathways (ALP) have also emerged as an important tool for reaching older out-of-school children. More than 58,000 children have been enrolled in 1,692 ALP centers established with support from government agencies and development partners.

Meanwhile, ECE programs are transforming early childhood education across the province. Hundreds of classrooms have been upgraded into modern learning spaces, while thousands more are being developed to ensure children receive a strong educational foundation during their formative years.

Community engagement has also played a crucial role. Parent-Teacher Councils have helped improve school infrastructure, while community schools and voucher-based stipend programs have enabled talented children from low-income families to continue their education.

Scholarship initiatives such as stars of KP and ETEA merit scholarships are further encouraging students to remain in school and pursue academic excellence.

While challenges remain in KP, including the need for thousands of additional schools and improved educational infrastructure besides missing facilities including toilets and boundary walls, the progress reflected in the latest economic survey offers a rare and welcome success story.

For children who once spent their days working on streets, helping with household chores, or simply lacking access to education, the classroom door is opening wider than ever before.

Their journeys symbolize more than rising enrollment figures as they represent a nation steadily breaking the shackles of illiteracy and investing in a brighter future for generations to come.