The Real Cost of Educating a Girl in Pakistan: Household Out-of-Pocket Costs of Girls’ Public Secondary School Education

Although Article 25-A guarantees free and compulsory education for children aged 5–16, families continue to bear significant costs to keep their daughters in school. This study by the Pakistan Coalition for Education (PCE), in collaboration with Blue Veins, Tabadlab and Thar Education Alliance and with support from Malala Fund Pakistan, surveyed 1,000 rural households across Balochistan, Islamabad Capital Territory, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh. It estimates what parents spend to keep girls enrolled in Grades 9 and 10 of public schools.

The findings show that households spend an average of PKR 5,899 per month, or about 12.5% of their income, on one girl’s secondary education. Costs range from PKR 4,072 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to PKR 8,171 in Balochistan. Transport, uniforms and learning materials make up most of these costs. Only 7.6% of girls receive a stipend, while 25.8% of households borrow money to cover schooling costs. The report calls for expanded and harmonised girls’ stipends, safe and affordable transport, free learning materials and school meal programmes, so that girls’ secondary education is free not only in law but also in practice.