5m Pakistani children out of school: UN report

Islamabad, to share Pakistan specific statistics and analysis with major educationists and policymakers.
The report recognises dire need for investment in the future of young boys and girls in terms of spending, quality education and skill building initiatives.
The report reveals that the school age population of Pakistan is 197,5 million.
Net enrollment ratio in primary schools is 74 percent.
Dr Kozue Kay Nagata in the opening remarks, quoting from the global speech of Director-General of Unesco, Ms Irina Bokova, said, “I would like to dedicate this ceremony to Ms Malala Yousafzai, a young brave activist for the right of girls to the education of Pakistan, assaulted last week, because she wanted to go to school.”
Dr Roshan Chitrakar, senior education specialist of Unesco, told the participants, “Pakistan needs to tackle unemployment of the youth, and make them to be productive labour force, through training and education.”
According to the Global Monitoring Report, only 40 percent of girls of age 15 or less are literate, which is projected to 60 percent by 2015; thus needs special attention to eliminate gender parity.
In Pakistan, skills development, including teacher training, expenditure in year 2008/2009 was only 1 percent out of total education budget.
“Education is the best investment in the societies we want. Every 1 US dollar spent on child education yields US$10-15 in economic growth over person’s working life. this calls for global push and commitment for education in this country,” said Dr Nagata.
The Global Monitoring Report urges on faster progress for quality education and adult literacy to meet its goals by the deadline of 2015. — Xinhua.