Islamabad: In a meeting held on January 13, 2025, the Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, engaged in discussions with a delegation led by former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik. The meeting focused on educational challenges, particularly regarding girls’ education and out-of-school children in Pakistan.

According to a statement by Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, the gathering also included Secretary Education Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani and former Oslo Parliament member Aamir Javed Sheikh. The discussions highlighted Pakistan’s leadership role among Islamic countries in addressing educational issues.

Minister Siddiqui emphasized the pressing challenges Pakistan faces in education, exacerbated by climate change. He mentioned the government’s declaration of an educational emergency and outlined efforts to enhance access to schools, improve infrastructure, and address teacher training and nutritional issues in collaboration with other ministries.

The Minister noted that while the percentage of out-of-school children relative to the population is decreasing, the overall number is rising. To address these issues, the Pakistan Institute of Education has been established to collect data and develop targeted interventions.