Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) survey has indicated that there is marginal change from 44 percent in 2004-05 to 43 percent in 2005-06 in the proportion of the population of 10 years of age and over that has completed primary level or higher education.
Both figures are statistically same and the marginal difference may be due to adoption of 77,000 sampled households in 2004-05 and 15,000 in 2005-06. According to Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey (PSLM), the proportion is highest in Sindh (46 percent) and lowest in Balochistan (25 percent), which are same as was in 2004-05. Lowest trend for females is observed in rural Balochistan, where only six percent females have completed primary school.
According to PSLM, more than one half of the population of ten years and above ie 56 percent in 2005-06 as compared to 55 percent in 2004-05 has ever attended school.
This proportion is much higher in urban areas than in rural areas and much higher in men than in women. No significant change has been observed due to smaller gap between the two PSLM surveys. Punjab and NWFP provinces have shown slight improvement wherever Sindh is at the same level of 2004-05, however, there is slight decline in Balochistan.
The proportion of 10-14 years old population who ever attended school have increased from 70 percent as reported in 2001-02 PIHS to 75 percent in 2005-06 PSLM, whereas the age group of 15-19 years old has increased from 67 percent to 72 percent.
There is a positive relationship between school attendance and quintiles in every province and region, the better off the household, the more likely that its members are to have ever attended school.
The weakest relationship between income and education has been observed for women in rural Balochistan. There, even in the wealthiest households only 25 percent of women have ever been to school. Whereas it is significant in Punjab and in NWFP. However in urban areas, all the four provinces show significant difference between the first quintile and the richest last quintile. Regarding males, all the four provinces have shown the similar increasing trend from first quintile to fifth quintile.
Literacy and primary school enrolment rates in Pakistan are low as compared to the countries of the region. A number of studies of the education system in Pakistan have revealed that the quality of education being provided by government primary schools is poor.
Many schools do not have adequate teachers and resources. Basic objective of Poverty Reduction Strategy Programme (PRSP) is to expand and improve the quality of publicly provided primary education. Education commands a large share of the overall PRSP budget.
The PRSP strategy for the sector includes, improving the functioning, utilisation of existing school, improving the quality of education, increasing enrolment, improving access to education and expanding the primary education system.