25 million children out of school in Pakistan

25 million children out of school in Pakistan

25 million children out of school in Pakistan

Almost 25 million children, of whom seven million are aged between three to five years, and adolescents are out of school in Pakistan, a report said. 

The poor state of education in the country is evident from Pakistan's position on the Education Development Index, as the country is ranked at 113 of 120 countries on the index.

The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) in its annual report, The State of Pakistan's Children, reveals that children in Pakistan have to cope with a lack of educational opportunities, poor health conditions, a near absence of protection for poor and vulnerable children. 

Miserable conditions in juvenile jails and continued employment of children in hazardous occupations are other issues being faced by the children in the country. Almost 225,000 annual newborn deaths are reported in Pakistan, the report pointed out.

Violence against children remains culturally entrenched as children in Pakistan have to cope with physical violence, abuse, trafficking, recruitment in armed conflict and acid attacks. 

It says that there were 3,861 cases of child sexual abuse, reported from different parts of the country in 2012, and 5,659 cases of violence against children were reported from January to October 2012.

The report also highlights the ineffectiveness of the current legislation on child and bonded labour and also emphasises the lack of concrete measures towards enacting comprehensive child labour legislation. 

According to the report, Pakistan lacks adequate facilities to deal with children who come in conflict with the law.