Editing Pakistan (section)

=== Education ===
{{Main|Education in Pakistan}}
{{See also|Higher Education Commission (Pakistan)|Rankings of universities in Pakistan}}
[[File:NUST MainOffice.png|thumb|[[NUST School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science|NUST]] in Islamabad is a top ranked Engineering University.]]

Pakistan's [[constitution of Pakistan|constitution]] mandates [[Free education|free]] primary and secondary education,<ref>{{cite web |title=Chapter 1: "Fundamental Rights" of Part II: "Fundamental Rights and Principles of Policy" |url=http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part2.ch1.html |website=pakistani.org}}<br />- {{cite web |date=21 April 2006 |title=Right to Education in Pakistan |url=http://www.oikoumene.org/resources/documents/wcc-commissions/international-affairs/human-rights-and-impunity/the-right-to-education-in-pakistan.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313083147/http://www.oikoumene.org/resources/documents/wcc-commissions/international-affairs/human-rights-and-impunity/the-right-to-education-in-pakistan.html |archive-date=13 March 2012 |access-date=25 July 2010 |publisher=World Council of Churches}}</ref> with public universities established in each province, including [[University of the Punjab|Punjab University]], [[Sindh University]], [[University of Peshawar|Peshawar University]], [[University of Karachi|Karachi University]], and [[University of Balochistan|Balochistan University]]. The country's educational landscape encompasses both [[Public university|public]] and [[Private university|private]] universities, fostering collaboration to enhance research and [[Higher education in Pakistan|higher education]] opportunities, albeit with concerns regarding teaching quality in newer institutions.<ref>{{cite web |date=10 September 2015 |title=Number of universities rises while education standard falls |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/islamabad/10-Sep-2015/number-of-universities-rises-while-education-standard-falls |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006074617/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/islamabad/10-Sep-2015/number-of-universities-rises-while-education-standard-falls |archive-date=6 October 2015 |access-date=11 September 2015 |website=DailyTimes}}</ref> [[vocational education|Technical and vocational institutions]] in Pakistan number approximately 3,193,<ref name="edu2">{{cite report |title=Economic Survey 2009–10 |publisher=Ministry of Finance, Pakistan |page=147 & Table 11.1 (p. 160) |access-date=2 January 2012 |chapter=Education |chapter-url=http://www.finance.gov.pk/survey/chapter_10/10_Education.pdf |archive-date=13 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113072252/http://www.finance.gov.pk/survey/chapter_10/10_Education.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> complemented by ''[[Madrassas in Pakistan|madrassahs]]'' providing free Islamic education to students,<ref>{{cite web |title=Pakistani madrassahs |url=http://www.uvm.edu/~envprog/madrassah.html#_ftn8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050214194645/http://www.uvm.edu/~envprog/madrassah.html#_ftn8 |archive-date=14 February 2005 |access-date=21 February 2009 |publisher=United States Institute of Peace}}</ref> with government efforts to [[Education reform|regulate and monitor]] their quality amidst concerns over extremists recruitment.<ref>{{cite web |last=Synovitz |first=Ron |date=24 February 2004 |title=Pakistan: Despite Reform Plan, Few Changes Seen At Most Radical Madrassahs |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1051650.html |access-date=21 February 2009 |publisher=Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty}}<br />- {{cite web |last1=Ali |first1=Syed Mohammad |title=Policy Brief: Another Approach to Madrassa Reforms in Pakistan |url=http://jinnah-institute.org/policy-brief-another-approach-to-madrassa-reforms-in-pakistan-3/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518112052/http://jinnah-institute.org/policy-brief-another-approach-to-madrassa-reforms-in-pakistan-3/ |archive-date=18 May 2015 |access-date=21 February 2015 |publisher=Jinnah Institute of Peace}}</ref> [[Education in Pakistan|Education]] is divided into six main levels, including nursery, primary, [[Middle school|middle]], [[High school (upper secondary)|matriculation]], [[Community college|intermediate]], and university programs.<ref name="edu2" /> Additionally, [[Schools in Pakistan|private schools]] offer a parallel secondary education system based on the curriculum set by the [[Cambridge International Examinations]],<ref>{{cite web |title=GCE O and A level exams in Pakistan |url=http://www.britishcouncil.org/pakistan-exams-gce.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201090835/http://www.britishcouncil.org/pakistan-exams-gce.htm |archive-date=1 February 2008 |access-date=13 February 2008 |publisher=[[British Council]]}}</ref> with 439 international schools reported in Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web |title=ISC News |url=http://www.iscresearch.com/information/isc-news.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000123/http://www.iscresearch.com/information/isc-news.aspx |archive-date=4 March 2016 |publisher=International School Consultancy Group}}</ref>

[[File:Malala Yousafzai and Kaliash Satyarthi at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.jpg|thumb|[[Malala Yousafzai]] was awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] in 2014, alongside [[Kailash Satyarthi]] of India, for her advocacy of educational initiatives, particularly girls' education worldwide.|left]]

Initiatives since 2007 made [[English medium education]] mandatory nationwide. Following a 2012 attack on activist [[Malala Yousafzai]] by the [[Tehrik-i Taliban Pakistan|Taliban]], she became the youngest Nobel laureate for her education advocacy.<ref>{{cite web |last=McNicoll |first=Kristen |title=English medium education improvement in Pakistan supported |url=http://www.britishcouncil.org/organisation/press/english-medium-education-improvement-pakistan-supported |access-date=21 February 2015 |publisher=British Council Pakistan Bureau}}<br />- {{cite web |title=Ministry of Education-Government of Pakistan |url=http://www.moe.gov.pk/mediacell.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105215406/http://www.moe.gov.pk/mediacell.htm |archive-date=5 January 2007 |access-date=1 January 2012 |publisher=Moe.gov.pk}}</ref> Reforms in 2013 mandated Chinese language courses in Sindh, reflecting China's growing influence. As of 2018, Pakistan's literacy rate stands at 62.3%, with significant regional and gender disparities.<ref>{{cite news |date=10 June 2019 |title=Pakistan Economic Survey 2018–19 Chapter 10: Education |url=http://www.finance.gov.pk/survey/chapters_19/10-Education.pdf |access-date=7 July 2019 |work=Dawn |archive-date=7 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707005708/http://www.finance.gov.pk/survey/chapters_19/10-Education.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Government initiatives, including computer literacy since 1995, aim to eradicate illiteracy, targeting 100% enrollment among primary school-age children and an ~86% literacy rate by 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=National Plan of Action 2001–2015 |url=http://www.moe.gov.pk/npaEFA.zip |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060517232352/http://www.moe.gov.pk/npaEFA.zip |archive-date=17 May 2006 |access-date=13 February 2008 |publisher=Ministry of Education, Government of Pakistan |format=ZIP}}</ref> Pakistan allocates 2.3% of its GDP to education,<ref>{{cite news |title=Pakistan Economic Survey 2019–20 (Education) |url=http://www.finance.gov.pk/survey/chapter_20/10_Education.pdf |access-date=25 May 2021 |archive-date=21 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621162712/https://finance.gov.pk/survey/chapter_20/10_Education.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> among the lowest in South Asia.<ref>{{cite web |date=28 April 2016 |title=Pakistan's education spending lowest in South Asia |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1254909/pakistans-education-spending-lowest-in-south-asia |publisher=Dawn}}</ref>
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