Transforming Education in Pakistan

More than 23 million children in Pakistan do not attend school. And more than half of children who start at government schools drop out before completing their primary education. These stark facts are harming a rising generation of Pakistanis, already vulnerable to unemployment, social instability, and extremism.

Despite international donors investing hundreds of millions of dollars over many years to improve the public education system, their impact has been limited due to a lack of political will in Pakistan.

Accadian was commissioned by DAI and The Department for International Development (DFID) to design and implement the ‘Transforming Education in Pakistan’ programme.

Over five years, we have drawn on political campaigning techniques to develop a unique approach to development communications that influences political will and mobilises voter demand.

Approximately 1.5 million supporters have signed up for the campaign, branded Alif Ailaan, including educators, parents, civil society organisations and politicians from all major parties. The campaign’s Facebook page has amassed more than 2.6 million followers (spring 2018). It is now of sufficient standing that the Prime Minster of Pakistan has hosted campaign events, and its data analysis and methodology are the benchmark informing policy and the reform discourse.

Debate now focuses on defining solutions rather than arguing about the problem, and government spending on education has increased dramatically as a share of GDP.

As Pakistan approaches the 2018 national elections, Alif Ailaan will leave a legacy of strong, independent, authoritative activists who continue the campaign for transformative education reform.