Pakistan stands at a clear turning point in its path of progress. The country’s growing youthful population presents the opportunity to harness the demographic dividend for economic and social advancement.

However, the vast number of children who are out of school, the widespread learning poverty in society, and the high unemployment rate make capitalising on this potential daunting.

As reported in the Pakistan Education Statistics 2021-22, the figures show that almost 26.2 million children do not go to school in Pakistan, accounting for 39 per cent of the school-aged (5-16) population, and thus marking the country in the 2nd place globally. The Pakistan Economic Survey 2022-23 reports that the literacy rate is still 62.8 per cent and unequal between the urban and rural areas. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics states that the rate of unemployed youth aged 15-24 is approximately 11.1 per cent, which is an alarming situation that indicates the dire need for a proficient skills development framework.

The unemployment issue needs to be resolved urgently while taking insights from its regional counterparts like China and Bangladesh. The key measures necessary for that are the incorporation of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) into the formal education system, the alignment of skills training and market demand, the application of technology for inclusive skill development, addressing gender-based inequities in the provision of skills, and cultivating relationships between the public and private sector.

Pakistan confronts a double burden in which many children are out of school, and there is........

© The News International