On Wednesday, Pakistan declared an emergency to enrol 26 million children of school-going age who are not registered to seek formal education, the highest number in the world.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced in Islamabad that his government was imposing a formal emergency declaration to tackle the daunting task of wooing back children to school.

The declaration allows for mobilising funds and resources and puts the problem high on the government agenda.

Mr Sharif said a combination of policy and administrative tools and incentives would be deployed to encourage parents to send their children to the classroom.

“It’s a challenge that needs resources and commitment. It is difficult but not impossible,” Mr Sharif said, addressing a ceremony attended by diplomats, ministers, and education experts.

Pakistan, a nuclear-capable Islamic republic with around 240 million population, is an education laggard due to decades of conflicts, political and economic uncertainty, poverty and, lately, the impact of climate change.

According to UN statistics, around 26 million children between five and 16, or nearly 40 per cent of all school-going children, are not enrolled in formal education.

This is the highest number of out-of-school children in any country.

Britain’s Department for International Development and the United Nations will provide Pakistan with resources and technical support for the programme.

“Pakistan faces an education crisis and has got to deal with it now,” said Jane Marriott, British high commissioner in Islamabad. 

(dpa/NAN)