Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Welcome back to another blog. This article will discuss the topic in detail “Pakistan’s Education Budget in FY 23”. The cumulative education expenditures by both the federal and provincial governments for the fiscal year 2022-23 (FY23) are estimated to account for a mere 1.77 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), making it the lowest allocation in the entire region.
The recently published Economic Survey 2022-23 highlighted a significant surge in expenditures allocated towards education-related activities during the fiscal year 2022. Notably, there was an impressive growth of 37.3 percent, resulting in the expenditure amount escalating from Rs. 802.2 billion to a substantial sum of Rs. 1,101.7 billion. This substantial increase underscores the government’s commitment to investing in the education sector. It is prioritizing the development and well-being of the nation’s youth.
According to the findings of the Labor Force Survey conducted in 2020-21, it was observed that the overall literacy rate experienced a slight improvement. The literacy rate in 2020-21 stood at 62.8 percent, showing a marginal increase compared to the previous year’s rate of 62.4 percent, as recorded in 2018-19. Moreover, a closer analysis revealed a gender disparity in literacy rates, with males exhibiting a higher percentage. Specifically, the literacy rate among males showed a modest increase from 73.0 percent in 2018-19 to 73.4 percent in 2020-21. On the other hand, the literacy rate among females also witnessed a slight rise, ascending from 51.5 percent to 51.9 percent during the same period.
An analysis conducted based on geographical areas reveals a positive trend in literacy rates. Both rural and urban areas have experienced an upward shift in literacy levels. In rural regions, the literacy rate has shown a slight improvement from 53.7% in 2018-19 to 54.0% in 2020-21. Similarly, urban areas have witnessed a growth in literacy, rising from 76.1% in 2018-19 to 77.3% in 2020-21.
Encouragingly, there is a gradual reduction in the disparity between male and female literacy rates. This indicates progress in bridging the gap and ensuring equitable educational opportunities for both genders.
Across the provinces, positive developments have been observed in literacy rates. Punjab, for instance, has seen a modest increase from 66.1% to 66.3%. In Sindh, the literacy rate has risen from 61.6% to 61.8%, reflecting a positive trajectory. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on the other hand, has experienced more significant growth, with the literacy rate climbing from 52.4% to 55.1%. Balochistan has also shown improvement, with the literacy rate increasing from 53.9% to 54.5%.
These findings highlight the collective efforts being made to enhance literacy across different regions of the country. The progress indicates a step forward in empowering individuals through education and fostering a more inclusive and knowledgeable society.
The literacy rate among individuals aged 10 years and older stands at 60 percent. It is indicating that a majority of the population possesses basic reading and writing skills. However, there exists a notable gender disparity, with males exhibiting higher levels of literacy compared to females. This gender gap is evident in various regions of the country. The province of Punjab boasts the highest literacy rate, while Balochistan lags behind at the bottom of the scale.
Examining the literacy rates specifically among the youth, aged 15 to 24 years, we observe a slightly more encouraging scenario. The overall literacy rate for this age group is 72 percent, suggesting a relatively higher level of educational attainment. However, even within this age bracket, we find a gender-based discrepancy, with males reporting a literacy rate of 79 percent. It is surpassing their female counterparts who stand at 65 percent. It is concerning to note that the disparities in literacy rates among females are more pronounced when compared to their male counterparts in the youth segment.
Shifting our focus to the adult population, encompassing individuals aged 10 years and above, the overall literacy rate stands at 57 percent. This figure indicates that slightly over half of the adult population possesses the ability to read and write. Once again, we observe a gender disparity, with males exhibiting a higher literacy rate of 68 percent, while females lag behind at 46 percent. These figures underscore the fact that adult males generally enjoy higher levels of literacy compared to adult females across the country.
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