Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Highlights Alarming School Dropout Rates, Calls for Reform

FAISALABAD — Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has called for a nationwide unified curriculum, declaring education a fundamental right for all citizens. Speaking at the ‘Bano Qabil Programme’ in Faisalabad, he emphasized the urgent need to reform Pakistan’s education system and ensure equal access across all regions.
Addressing a large public gathering at Crescent Ground, Hafiz Naeem revealed that more than 20 million children aged 5 to 16 are currently out of school in Pakistan, with over 10 million in Punjab alone. He criticized the deteriorating condition of government schools, alleging that 17,000 institutions have been outsourced after being deliberately weakened.
“Education is our right, and there should be one curriculum for everyone,” he said, questioning the credibility of those responsible for the failed promise of an “Educated Punjab.”
To improve access to higher education, Hafiz Naeem announced the launch of a new degree programme in Faisalabad, aimed at empowering youth and bridging educational gaps. He also projected that the party’s initiatives could contribute to a $4 billion increase in IT exports, urging young Pakistanis not to lose hope in the country’s future.
The Jamaat-e-Islami leader concluded by announcing a major public gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan on November 21, positioning education reform as a central pillar of national development.