Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal has urged for comprehensive reforms in Pakistan's education sector to meet needs of 21st century.

He stated this during a meeting with senior officials of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training in Islamabad today.

Addressing the critical issues surrounding the outdated curriculum, the Minister underscored the necessity for a modern, forward-thinking approach to ensure the educational system meets the needs of the 21st century.

Ahsan Iqbal said the education sector must implement all necessary reforms without delay.

He said our educational curriculum remains a significant pain point for many parents, as they are acutely aware of how outdated and disconnected it is from the real-world demands of contemporary Pakistan.

The Minister highlighted that the Vision 2025 initiative originally proposed four key areas of reform: curriculum revision, teacher training, overhaul of the examination system, and madrassah reforms.

He said the current curriculum fails to align with the realistic needs of today's Pakistan. He shared his vision of equipping madrassahs with basic science education so that they can be given high school or secondary school equivalence. He said no country can achieve long-term success without a literacy rate of at least 90%. It is imperative that we invest in our education system now to ensure a prosperous future for all Pakistanis.

Highlighting the alarming number of out of school children, the Minister stressed that immediate action is required to address these gaps. He said the current state of our education system is a crisis that demands urgent intervention.

Ahsan said we have over 26 million children who are out of school, and our literacy rate stands at a troubling 61%. This is not just a statistic; it represents a significant barrier to our nation's progress.

Secretary Ministry of Education Mohyeddin Wani briefed the Minister on the progress of several fast-track educational reform initiatives, highlighting significant advancements aimed at modernizing and enhancing Pakistan’s education system in the last one year.

During the briefing, it was announced that the new Financial Literacy curriculum, developed with the expertise of industry leaders, is set to launch on Monday.

This curriculum is a key part of the government's commitment to equipping students with essential financial skills for the 21st century. In addition to Financial Literacy, the Ministry of Education is actively working on curricula for Entrepreneurship, Coding, Artificial Intelligence, and Climate Change. These programs are designed to address emerging global trends and prepare students for future challenges and opportunities.

Another major development is the end-to-end encryption of the Federal Board exam system. This enhancement is aimed at ensuring digital transparency and efficiency in the examination process, reflecting the Ministry's dedication to maintaining the integrity of the educational assessment system.

The Minister praised these advancements as critical steps towards improving the quality and relevance of education in Pakistan.  He said these initiatives represent a significant leap forward in our efforts to modernize the education system and prepare our students for a rapidly evolving world.