Punjab out-of-school children crisis deepens as poverty, inflation, and crumbling facilities push millions away from classrooms

Punjab carries the title of Pakistan’s educational hub. However, that reputation sits uncomfortably alongside a deeply troubling reality. Millions of children across the province remain out of school, and the numbers tell a damning story. According to UNICEF and the Pakistan Institute of Education, more than 25 million children across Pakistan are not in school. Punjab accounts for the largest share of that figure. Therefore, the Punjab out-of-school children crisis is not a minor gap — it is a systemic failure.

The barriers are well documented. Poverty and rising inflation in rural areas have forced many parents to send children to work instead of school. Education expert and former Punjab education minister Imran Masood pointed to these economic pressures directly. He also highlighted that some areas still lack schools entirely, forcing children to travel long distances just to access basic education. Furthermore, many schools that do exist operate with only one teacher and without essential facilities.

Parents add another dimension to the problem. Many say the poor standard of education in government schools makes attendance feel pointless. Private schools, meanwhile, have become unaffordable for low and middle-income families as fees continue to rise. Therefore, families face an impossible choice between quality they cannot access and cost they cannot bear.

The Punjab government says it has launched special campaigns to bring out-of-school children back into the education system. However, campaign announcements alone have not historically moved the needle in a meaningful way. The root causes — poverty, teacher shortages, inadequate infrastructure, and unaffordable private schooling — demand structural solutions rather than seasonal drives.

Punjab’s children deserve better than a province that celebrates its educational legacy while millions of them grow up without a classroom. Finally, until the government addresses why children leave school in the first place, enrollment campaigns will only scratch the surface of a much deeper crisis.