Pakistan Declares Emergency To Enroll 26 Million Out-Of-School Kids

Activists held a school admission rally in Pakistan's North Waziristan on April 25.

Pakistan declared an emergency on May 8 to enroll 26 million children of school-going age who are not registered to seek formal education, the highest number in the world. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that his government was imposing the formal emergency declaration to tackle the daunting task of wooing back children to school. The declaration allows for the mobilization of funds and resources and puts the problem high on the government agenda. A combination of policy and administrative tools would be deployed, as well as incentives to encourage parents to send their kids to the classroom, Sharif said.