An analytical review of Pakistan's educational policies and plans

After more than a half century of independence, nearly half of Pakistan's population is still illiterate. There are various factors responsible for this sorry state of affairs. In this context, this paper attempts to analyze the situation of national educational policies and plans. The overall outcome of this discussion reflects that poorly produced and inadequate implementation of education policies and plans were major hurdles in the development of the education sector in Pakistan. The analysis also highlights that throughout the history of this country, new policies and plans were often prepared without giving due consideration to the causes of failure of previous policies and plans. The practice of extending the time period for the unmet targets of previous policies can also be seen on a number of occasions in the history of Pakistan. This situation highlights the need for the formulation of rational policies and plans as well as an adequate system for their implementation. In conclusion, the paper suggests some measures for improvement.