Islamabad: Pakistan has made significant strides in increasing school enrollment, yet the latest ASER 2025 report reveals persistent gaps in foundational learning, with many children failing to acquire basic competencies even after several years of education. According to Gilani Research Foundation, the report shows that by Class 5, only 52.3% of students can read a Class 2 level story in local languages, 56.3% can read English sentences, and 49.6% can perform two-digit division.

The data highlights that while learning does improve with grade progression, a substantial number of children remain below basic competency levels. This learning crisis is particularly pronounced in early grades, with only 12.4% of Class 3 students able to read a story in Urdu, Sindhi, or Pashto, and similar struggles observed in English and arithmetic. The report underscores the need for a stronger focus on foundational learning rather than solely on increasing school participation.

The analysis also shows disparities between private and government schools, though neither system is delivering universally strong learning outcomes. Despite private schools showing some advantages, overall performance remains insufficient across both sectors. The findings further indicate relatively modest gender and rural-urban gaps, suggesting that the primary issue is the widespread deficiency in foundational learning.

Additionally, the report highlights the severe learning deficiencies among out-of-school children, emphasizing the interconnected challenges of dropout rates and inadequate early learning. The ASER 2025 data suggests a shift in Pakistan’s educational focus from merely increasing enrollment to ensuring that children in school acquire essential reading and numeracy skills timely.