Punjab, home to ~130 million people, is grappling with a massive shortage of public schools, with only ~38,000 government-run institutions — a key factor behind the province’s high student dropout rate, according to a new Population Council report.
The report warns Punjab needs 19,000 additional schools over the next 15 years to serve its fast-growing population, with over 10 million children (ages 5–15) currently out of school. It urges the provincial government to prioritize education in the upcoming budget and allocate major funding for school construction.
Despite 21,702 primary, 7,200 middle, 8,000 high, and 800 higher secondary schools across 36 districts, no new public school has been built in Lahore since 2011. Many newly developed urban housing areas still lack access to public schools.
Compounding the crisis, officials and educators criticize the government’s push to outsource public schools, arguing it further disadvantages poor families who depend on free education.
Punjab Teachers Union Secretary General Rana Liaqat Ali welcomed the attention from international NGOs but stressed, “Outsourcing won’t solve the real problem. The government must act for the future of our children.”
