Author: Farrukh Nasim Abbasi
Institutional Affiliation(s)
Independent

About the Author:
Mr. Farrukh Nasim Abbasi contributes his insights to the Alternate Solutions Institute on issues related to governance, institutional reform, and public value. With over two decades of professional experience—including key roles at the British Council Islamabad and Currently working in USA retail industry expertise in quality assurance, compliance, and operational management. His background in cybersecurity and educational systems supports his thoughtful engagement with the Institute’s mission to advance liberty and responsible governance.

Author Note

Independent repost/research no grant/funding has been used for research.

For further correspond email farrukhnasim.abbasi@gmail.com.

The Education System in Pakistan:

Challenges, Diversity, and the Path Forward

          The national development process of Pakistan strongly depends on education asbecause it transforms the destiny of millions of people. Pakistan maintains a diverse education system because its structure includes various independent systems which serve different income brackets of society. The system faces multiple barriers which prevent educational forward motion despite all improvement initiatives.This article studies Pakistan’s education systems together with their current influence and proposes reforms to establish an effective equal educational system.

The Structure of Pakistan’s Education System

The education system in Pakistan consists of four main sections starting(beginning) from primary Grades 1–5 followed by middle Grades 6–8 and secondary Grades 9–10 and high school levels for Grades 11–12. After Grade 12,students pursue higher education before entering undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The established framework contains parallel learning streams alongside their unique educational content alongside different teaching languages and assessment practices.

Public Education System

The Pakistan government operates the public education system as its primary education provision that delivers education at low cost or without fees. The provincial and federal education boards implement regulations to guide the curriculum instruction while Urdu generally serves as the main mode of instruction. Public school institutions strive to teach mass populations yet encounter multiple barriers like deficient educational facilities and untrained staff and old educational content and insufficient funding support. The poor conditions of many overcrowded classrooms along with insufficient modern educational methods reduce the quality of instruction in schools throughout the nation.

Private Education System

Schools operated privately have emerged alongside government institutions to provide students with contemporary curricula and English-speaking classes and advanced facilities. Private schools include economical programs serving middle-class students as well as premium institutions that implement international education methods. Private education provides better educational quality than what public schools offer though expensive tuition fees restrict many students from attending these schools.

Madrassa Education System

Madrassas function as Islamic religious seminaries which deliver exclusive Islamic curriculum. Madrassa education normally concentrates on religious studies which restricts graduating students to religious occupations instead of professional roles. Progressive changes in madrassa education take place but these colleges face difficulties when attempting to join standardized educational systems. Non-market skill training provided by madrassas prevents these schools from gaining acceptance with professional communities and academic institutions.

O-Level and A-Level System

Students worldwide recognize the British-based O-Level (Ordinary Level) and A-Level (Advanced Level) system because it operates under Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) and Pearson Edexcel. The teaching methodology targets cognitive abilities and investigative approaches to education instead of continuously learning memorized information by heart. Higher educational possibilities in foreign institutions exist for O and A Level students although their tuition fees remain out of reach for most families. The transition of O and A Level graduates to local universities becomes challenging because they need to match their education level to the requirements of their new institution.

Technical and Vocational Education

The educational system of Pakistan runs specialized programs for technical training which delivers skills necessary for engineering and information technology and mechanical professions. Higher education institutions serve to connect pedagogical content from schools with job-ready capabilities. The vocational field experiences limited funding support and receives little professional acknowledgment because most professional industries continue to prefer students with traditional university degrees.

Higher Education in Pakistan

The higher education structure in Pakistan includes universities together with colleges which teach all three levels of undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programs across the country. The educational institutions Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) maintain international academic standards. The educational institutions in Pakistan face challenges which include old-fashioned educational programs as well as inadequate research backing and political obstacles. Too much discrepancy between mustered university knowledge and industrial requirements leads to increasing difficulties graduates face in securing employment opportunities.

Challenges Facing Pakistan’s Education System

• Pakistan’s education sector encounters multiple serious problems regardless of its multiple education pathways.
• South Asia shows Pakistan at the bottom of the literacy scale due to its low reading and writing capabilities alongside a large educational inequality between men and women.
• The national curriculum shows problems because it uses obsolete educational materials and requires students to memorize things rather than developing their critical thinking capabilities and practical abilities.
• Teaching professionals who work in government schools face deficits in their education about teaching methods along with pedagogical skills.
• The standards of education across cities and towns are unlike those in country areas while students from diverse financial backgrounds receive dissimilar educational opportunities.
• The educational institutions of Pakistan face challenges because the government does not allocate enough financial support to build proper facilities and buy necessary materials.
• Students face severe limitations in their matriculation assessments because these tests focus mostly on memory-based knowledge rather than conceptual understanding which fails to prepare them for academic or professional success.

The Role of Market and Private Sector in Promoting Quality Education in Pakistan

Pakistan’s education system faces numerous structural challenges—ranging from outdated curricula and undertrained teachers to insufficient infrastructure and funding gaps. Despite various streams (public, private, madrassa, technical, and international), a deep disparity persists in quality and access. The government alone cannot resolve these challenges, due to both financial limitations and operational inefficiencies.

This is where the market and private sector can and muststep in:

Expanding Access through Affordable Private Schools

• Private sector investment can create low-cost private schools, particularly in underserved rural and peri-urban areas.
• These schools often offer better facilities, trained staff, and English-medium instruction, giving students a competitive edge.
• With smart regulation and incentives, such schools can fill gaps left by overloaded public institutions.

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)

• The government can partner with NGOs, foundations, and private education providers to manage underperforming schools.
• These PPP models have already shown success in provinces like Punjab and Sindh through programs such as PEF and SEF.
• The private sector brings0operational efficiency, performance monitoring, and innovation to the table.

Investment in Technical and Vocational Education

• As noted in the paper, Pakistan’s TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) sector is underutilized and underfunded.
  • Private companies can help by:
  • Setting up industry-aligned training centers
  • Providing apprenticeships and internships
  • Co-developing curriculum with training institutes

EdTech and Digital Learning Solutions

• The private tech sector can provide scalable solutions through educational apps, e-learning platforms, and hybrid classrooms.
• With rising mobile and internet penetration, digital tools can supplement teacher shortages and offer personalized learning.
• Market-driven innovations like learning management systems (LMS) and AI-driven assessments help bridge learning gaps in both public and private schools.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiatives

• Private corporations can fund school infrastructure, scholarships, teacher training, and extracurricular programs through their CSR budgets.
• Many large companies already engage in educational support, but a more strategic alignment with national goals can improve impact.

Curriculum and Assessment Reform

• Educational publishers, think tanks, and private assessment bodies can work alongside the government to:
  • Modernize syllabi
  • Promote critical thinking and digital skills
  • Develop alternative assessment models that reduce rote learning, as criticized in the paper

Advisory and Capacity Building Support

• Large education companies, consulting firms, and university systems can support government departments through:
  • Policy advisory
  • Strategic planning
  • Data management systems
  • Impact evaluation

The Need for Reforms and the Way Forward

A better and inclusive education system for Pakistan requires implementing these following reforms are as follows: (bulleting is to begin after as follows)

• A modernized national syllabus which teaches critical thinking and problem-solving and digital literacy skills must prepare students for international standards of education.
• Government funding toward teacher education would enhance both teaching quality and student classroom involvement.
• An organized initiative needs to establish connections between educational systems so that students from all educational backgrounds receive equal admissions opportunities.
• Higher educational funding will create better facilities and enriched educational materials while establishing wider access to high-quality educational services.
• The implementation of vocational training programs should be promoted since it will prepare students with practical skills which leads to lower unemployment levels.
• The partnership between universities and industries should develop programs which match job market requirements to improve graduate employment prospects.

Conclusion

Hence, the existing diverse Pakistani educational system divides itself into two sections presenting both advantages together with obstacles and disadvantages for students. Several students receive benefits from modern private and international school curricula yet public education remains challenging for many students because of lack of funding and outdated teaching methods.Reform cannot succeed in isolation. A national transformation in education needs collaborative action between the state, private sector, civil society, and global partners. The market’s efficiency, resources, and innovation, combined with government oversight and inclusivity, can reshape Pakistan’s education landscape to ensure equity, quality, and sustainability.A successful approach to reducing educational gaps demands collaboration between curriculum transformation efforts with trainer training initiatives along with additional financial support and diverse education program combination. Pakistan can build a fair and efficient educational system through these necessary steps which will ensure children obtain the same chance to achieve success and help advance the country.Along with all theabove-mentioned steps, the government also needs to reduce the gaps between academia and industry through close collaboration between educational institutes and job markets.