Pakistan’s Non-Formal Education Centres Enroll Over 1.2 Million Students Nationwide
Pakistan has made continued progress in expanding access to education through its non-formal education system, with more than 1.23 million students currently enrolled in learning centres across the country.
The figures were shared during the launch of the Annual Statistical Report 2024–25 and the Federal Non-Formal Education Strategy 2025, released by the Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Government Focus on Out-of-School Children
Speaking at the event, Federal Secretary for the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Nadeem Mehboob, said that bringing 25.3 million out-of-school children into the education system remains a key national priority following the declaration of a National Education Emergency.
He said the new education strategy aims to provide learning opportunities along with practical and technical skills from the primary level through matriculation, helping students prepare for future employment and economic participation.
More Than 30,000 Learning Centres Operating
According to the report, 30,543 non-formal education centres are currently operating across Pakistan, serving 1,238,573 students with the support of 34,256 teachers.
The report highlights the important role of female educators, with 83 to 86 percent of teachers being women. As a result, girls account for 55 percent of total student enrollment in these centres.
The education programme also supports 15,747 refugee children and 11,774 students from minority communities.
Most of the centres focus on primary education, while a smaller number provide middle-level, technical, and adult literacy programmes.
Digital Monitoring to Improve Education
Director General of the Pakistan Institute of Education, Dr. Zaigham Qadeer, said that a digital monitoring system will be used to maintain records of student progress. The initiative is expected to help improve planning, policy development, and education management in the future.
JICA Reaffirms Support
Yusuke Shinozaki, Chief Representative of JICA Pakistan, appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to improve access to education and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting accelerated learning programmes and teacher training initiatives.
Provincial Enrollment Highlights
The report shows that Punjab has the largest non-formal education network, with 20,610 centres serving 678,751 students.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa operates 5,026 centres with 352,535 students, including a significant number of refugee children.
In Sindh, 58,411 students are enrolled in 1,152 centres, while Balochistan has 751 centres providing education to 38,115 students.
New Education Strategy
The Federal Non-Formal Education Strategy 2025 introduces updated learning pathways from primary to matriculation level. It also includes Middle-Tech and Matric-Tech programmes developed in collaboration with the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), aiming to equip students with practical skills alongside academic education.
The government says these initiatives are designed to expand educational opportunities and improve learning outcomes for children who are currently outside the formal school system.
