The Effectiveness of Policy and Practice for "Universal Primary Education" Within Education for All

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the national policies and plans to achieve “universal primary education” within the framework of EFA (Education for All) goals in Pakistan as well as to inform future policy decisions and research. An intense drive around the world to achieve education for all, particularly “universal primary education”, has completed a decade. Nations of the world have been successful at different levels, ranging from highly successful to poorly successful. Pakistan is still struggling for significant success in achieving “universal primary education”. Hence, to make well-informed future policy decisions and actions at this critical juncture, it is imperative to study what worked, what did not work, and why. This chapter analyzed official policy and plan documents issued by the government of Pakistan, UNESCO reports and data bases, and published empirical sources. The analysis revealed low achievement on the target of access to “universal primary education” (in 2007-08 the net primary enrollment was 66%, and the primary completion rate was 56% with remarkable disparities among urban and rural as well as male and female groups in the population). It appears that different reasons account for these results such as inefficiency in attending the poverty-stricken population, resistance from traditional segments of society, failure to devolve power at the grassroots level, low budget allocation to education, and bureaucratic governance of education under heavy political influence. Recommendations are made for future policy decisions and research.