Ammar Asif Ammar is an M.Phil. Media Researcher Postgraduate, a writer and reform educationist based in Rawalpindi.
From the First Generation of computers using vacuum tubes, to the Second Generation with transistors, the Third Generation with integrated circuits, the Fourth Generation with microprocessors, and now the Fifth Generation powered by artificial intelligence, the world has rapidly advanced through technological eras. Yet, Pakistan is facing an educational crisis of its own kind. According to a UNICEF report, approximately 22.8 million children aged 5-16 are not attending school a number equal to the entire population of Australia. Every year, a population the size of New Zealand is born in our country, which means this crisis is not static but growing alongside our inflation rate. While technology races ahead, Pakistan’s education system risks falling further behind, leaving millions of children without the knowledge and skills in AI-driven world.
Nearly half of the children drop out before completing primary school, and reports suggests that of those who enter Grade 1, only 27% reach secondary level Grade 10. Reports also indicate that half or more students never complete Grade 11 and 12. According to Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC), about 12% of individuals aged 18-25 are enrolled in universities roughly half the South Asian average of 25%. Average Graduation Rate of BS Program of Pakistani universities are 75% means only 7% of students complete their graduation even in 2025, and less than 1% reach MPhil or PhD level in a population of 240 million. These statistics are not just numbers they are a national emergency a complete dilemma.
Our current system simply cannot accommodate these millions of children. We lack physical infrastructure, trained teachers, and funding to build thousands of new schools buildings in each and every part of country. Government run schools in many rural areas exist only on paper. Where schools do exist, poverty, transportation, and security and gender inequality issues stop children from attending. Even in urban centers, inequality dominates. We have almost 272 Curriculums running across the nation. We also have separate education tracks of each reinforcing class divisions. The result? An unbalanced, unjust system that excludes millions. Instead of building new schools for 22 million children, what if we brought school to their mobile phones?
We are living in the age of social media and smartphones. Even in the poorest areas, mobile phones are common. What Pakistan needs is a national education app designed to provide basic education, ethics, patriotism, and Islamic values through engaging video content by intellectuals and think tank of nation. But this should be more than just an online classroom it should be a “Learn and Earn” model.
Government backed education app only registered through NADRA and biometric verification of only one child per B-Form Number to avoid misuse. A camera verification facial recognition to ensure only the registered child uses the app to prevent fraud and duplicate entries. In reward they can announce One Laptop One Pass Student scheme which can enhance their level of interest and E-Commerce Era in the country.
Video-based lessons focus on literacy, numeracy, ethics, environment, religion, and national identity. Instead of physics chemistry and math condenses topics. Designed by experienced educators and psychologists. Quizzes and Assessments should be simple MCQs or interactive games to test knowledge a child must complete weekly tasks to remain active and having no exam policy. Monthly financial incentives upon successful participation, each child gets Rs. 2000-5000 per month in their parent’s mobile wallet Encourages families to prioritize education over child labor same like Benazir Income support program. This Vocational Technical Degree Certification will be awarded after completing various levels, children can receive recognized certificates and diplomas these can be later used for formal education or skill-based employment. For pilot project we use this app to students of Bait-ul-Maal and in govt schools students to provoke drop out students. This Educational model tackles multiple crises at once. Children learn at home without needing new schools. Families get financial aid to keep their children learning. Educating children early helps counter extremist narratives as well. A literate, informed, and patriotic population is a powerful shield in 5th Generation Warfare war era.
It is also cost-effective. Building a school takes millions. Building an app takes a fraction of that cost but it has the power to reach every home, every village, and every street. In today’s world, education is a strategic weapon. Nations are no longer built by tanks and missiles, but by minds. Pakistan must adopt digital education as a national security priority. In the age of YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, where our children are already addicted to screens, let’s convert that screen time into learning time. Our app must be as addictive as a game, as rewarding as a job, and as transformative as a real school. This is not just innovation it is survival. We can’t wait for ideal circumstances. We don’t have the luxury of unlimited resources. But we do have creativity, youth, and technology. Let us use them wisely. By creating a single, well-monitored, reward-based national learning app, we can take the first real step toward solving our biggest national shame millions of children being denied their right to education. This is not a dream. This is a plan. And the time to act is right now.
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