Pakistan is facing challenges in recovering from the 2022 floods, with over 14,000 schools in Sindh still awaiting restoration out of the 19,500 damaged schools. Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah, in a meeting with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, disclosed that a total of 19,808 schools in Sindh were impacted by the floods. Among these, 5,465 schools have been earmarked for reconstruction and repair, with 2,268 being fully damaged and 3,197 partially damaged, leaving 14,343 schools yet to be restored, as reported by the Pakistani daily Dawn.
Efforts are underway to rebuild educational facilities for 1.4 million students through multi-funded programs, with major reconstruction projects covering 5,369 schools costing Pakistani Rs 167 billion. Of this amount, Rs 63.95 billion has already been utilized, and 2,114 schools have been completed through various funding channels. The highest number of affected schools by division were recorded in Hyderabad, Larkana, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas, and Karachi, with Khairpur district being the most severely impacted at the local level.
A recent government report highlighted that 26.2 million children in Pakistan are still out of school. The ‘Girls’ Education Statistics and Trends Report 2023-24′ released by Pakistan’s Federal Ministry of Education and Professional Training revealed that 3.4 million of these out-of-school children are girls. The report also underscored funding challenges, noting a decline in education financing in Pakistan, with the national education share dropping from 13% to 11%, particularly in provinces like Punjab and Sindh.
