SPEND BETTER, SPEND MORE - How to Make Education Expenditures Count for Children in Pakistan

Jul 19, 2026

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Report on how education spending decisions in Pakistan can be strengthened so that expenditures translate into better outcomes for children. It analyzes education financing, spending patterns, sector efficiency, and equity, then examines how system management and coordination shape results. Special attention is given to the roles of parents and civil society in education financing, supported by data and perspectives gathered through consultations and a national phone survey covering nearly 2,000 households.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages134

Reading Time5 h 38 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

Introduction

Overview of the Education System in Pakistan

Education Financing and Spending

Efficiency in the Education Sector in Pakistan

Equity in Pakistan’s Education

System Management and Coordination

Parents and Civil Society

Conclusion and Recommendations

Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Pub lic Disclosure Authorized Pub lic Disclosure Authorized SPEND BETTER, SPEND MORE How to Make Education Expenditures Count for Children in Pakistan Juan D. Barón, Mary Bend, Fahad Mirza, Nim ra Afzal, Hirut Wolde, Nadeem Hussain South Asia Region Education Global Practice The World Bank ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This report was the product of a concerted effort by a World Bank Education Global Practice task team under the Data and Research in Education (DARE) trust fund, facilitated by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO). Led by Senior Economist Juan D. Barón, the team comprised Mary (May) Bend, Fahad Mirza, Nim ra Afzal, Hirut Wolde, and Nadeem Hussain, who contributed substantial technical inputs, data analysis, recommendations, and content development for thereport. Elizabeth Salud and Insiya Syed provided design and photography, respectively. Special thanks to Maria Qazi who supported the poverty analysis in the report. This report has benefited from innumerable discussions over four years of policy dialogue with provincial and federal governments, local and international development partners, private sector, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders committed to improve education for all children in Pakistan. For enriching our consultations, we express our gratitude to the Additional Secretary and the Coordination & Implementation Lead at the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training (MOFEPT), Secretaries from Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan Education Departments and staff from all provincial Planning and Development Departments, research firms, civil society organizations, and international development partners including FCDO, UNICEF, UNHCR, USAID, and JICA, among others. Representatives from Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA), Institute of Social & Policy Sciences (I-SAPS), Tabadlab, Cambridge Partnership for Education (CPE), and Pak Alliance for Maths & Science (PAMS); civil society organizations like Malala Fund, Pakistan Coalition for Education (PCE), Global Sightsavers, and Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP) all provided valuable input during consultations. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who contributed to the report in different capacities. The report was enriched by technical inputs from Freya Perry and Saima Anwer, both Education Advisors at the FCDO. The report incorporated parental and household perspectives on education financing in Pakistan, thanks to Ipsos Pakistan and Lauren Nicole Dahlin, a consultant at the World Bank. Our analysis was enhanced by their data collection efforts via a national phone survey, and the views and opinions of nearly 2,000 households across Pakistan about the state of Pakistan’s education system . We are also appreciative of the support, facilitation, technical and policy knowledge, and continuous support of our World Bank colleagues, including Toby Linden, Izza Farrakh, Maliha Hyder, Inga Afanasieva, Elena Roseo, Puteri Watson, Irfan Muzzafar, Saqib Farooq, Mariem Rahim, Nim ra Tariq, Jessica Lee, Ariana Maria Del Mar Grossi, and Daniela Monsalve Farias, among many others. We thank colleagues Uzma Quresh and Mishka Zaman for connecting us with civil society organizations during consultations. We thank the entire Pakistan Education team, previous and present, as well as other colleagues, including Gul Najam Jamy, Amjad Zafar Khan, and Koen Geven, who were always available to answer a plethora of questions. Valuable inputs and comments to thereport were provided by analysts and experts, such as Nadia Naviwala, Umar Nadeem, Mosharraf Zaidi, Munazza Gillani, Baela Raza Jamil, Salman Naveed, Zia Akhter Abbas, and many others. We apologize if weare missing any colleagues but we reassure you that your contributions enriched the report. To all of you, thank you. Finally, this report would not have been possible without the direct and

FAQs

What is the focus of the report on education expenditures in Pakistan?

The report focuses on making education expenditures count for children by improving how education spending is planned, financed, and translated into outcomes.

Which aspects of the education system does the report analyze?

It analyzes education financing and spending, sector efficiency, equity, and system management and coordination.

How are parents and civil society involved according to the report?

The report incorporates parental and household perspectives and describes how civil society contributes inputs during consultations, highlighting their roles in education financing.

Jul 19, 2026

Upload by Ivy