Islamabad: With over 26 million children still out of school in Pakistan, the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights (PCCR) concluded its landmark nationwide initiative to tackle the country’s deepening education crisis.
The Closing Ceremony of the initiative, titled ‘Addressing Pakistan’s Education Crisis: Enhancing Parliamentary Engagement on Out-of-School Children “, was held at the Speaker’s Banquet Hall in the National Assembly, marking a critical step in uniting legislative and civic efforts for educational reform.
PCCR Convener Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan opened the event, emphasizing the urgency of a unified response to the education emergency. She launched the PCCR’s flagship report, Parliamentary Engagement for National Strategy on Education Emergency, a roadmap outlining practical, context-specific reforms based on nationwide consultations and research.
The event was attended by parliamentarians, government officials, development partners, civil society, and the media. Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Federal Education Minister Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui were acknowledged for their leadership and support.
Presentations and speeches addressed constitutional obligations under Article 25-A, and identified key barriers to education, including poverty, child labour, gender inequality, ghost schools, and inadequate school infrastructure.
Speakers proposed targeted reforms such as vocational training for women, psychological evaluations for teachers, expansion of BISP-linked school incentives, and integration of technology in classrooms.
The Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment through new initiatives such as expanded school meals and “Matric-Tech” vocational pathways. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of commemorative shields to key contributors, underscoring a renewed national resolve to ensure no child is left behind in Pakistan’s education system.
