Education is unquestionably the only way of taking any nation on the path of progress and prosperity. The provision of different levels of education from primary to higher education requires thoughtful planning and execution. In this regard, the government of Pakistan has initiated various literacy programmes and pilot projects to spread the light of education to every nook and corner of Pakistan. The last census in 2008 projected literacy rate for Pakistani males to be 69% and that of females was 44%. There is a dire need of taking these statistics to a much farther level and for this purpose, along with the initiatives launched by the government; the private sector is also playing its major role in assisting the government in increasing the literacy rate. Education programmes initiated and run by various NGOs and other groups are successfully functioning in different cities and districts of Pakistan.

Assessment of Social Demand for Education among Low and Middle Income Households and the Quality of Schooling Provided to their Children

Under a study initiated by the ODA carried out a survey of 3,500 low and middle income households in Lahore and in the urban and rural areas of the districts of Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and Bahawalpur to assess their demand for the schooling of their children, the type of schools attended by these children and the cost incurred by parents on the education of a child enrolled at primary level.

Around 300 schools attended by the children of the interviewed households were than subjected to a detailed survey to assess the quality of education provided by different types of institutions - private/government, primary/high. To evaluate the quality of education, students enrolled in grade-3 and their teachers were administered a two part test comprising questions of arithmetic and the Urdu language.

A similar study of 1,000 households and 300 schools was carried out in Karachi for the World Bank.

Review of the ADB Science Project

Conducted an evaluation of an ADB funded Science Education Project that served as an input for the project completion report. The exercise reviewed project components and design, assessed the achievement of its objectives and examined the sustainability of the investments made under the project.

A Case Study of Schools in Lahore

Carried out a major study to examine the relationship between the expenditure incurred per student by different types of schools, the quality of education being imparted and the levels of enrollment and student achievement.

To achieve the objectives of the study around 1,000 households from middle and low income areas of Lahore were interviewed to identify the schools being attended by children of primary school going age. A representative sample of 300 schools was then selected to conduct a comprehensive survey of fees earned, expenditures incurred on school operations and maintenance, the academic qualifications of teachers and student performance. Student achievement was assessed by administering a specifically designed test for grade-3 students.

Middle Schools and Middle Stage Education in the Punjab

This study was undertaken for the World Bank Mission entrusted with the responsibility to chalk out an education strategy for middle stage education in the Punjab. The scope of the study included an in-depth survey of 64 boys' schools and 32 girls' schools in urban and rural Punjab to evaluate the quality of middle stage education, in particular the quality of the infrastructure in middle schools. The report reviewed the changing enrollment ratios, the drop out rates and the reasons for dropping out of school. It examined the stance and relevance of the curriculum, the role of the examination system as a certifying technique, teacher recruitment and training facilities, the problems of teachers, and the organizational structure managing the middle school education system. The report concluded with recommendations on the issues subjected to a discussion.

Demand for Education Survey

Conducted a survey of 500 households in low income areas of Karachi to assess the social demand for education among the less affluent segments of the population.

Research Paper on Technical and Vocational Training

Prepared a research paper on government policies and institutional arrangements for providing technical education and vocational training. The paper reviewed the demand for skills within the economy and assessed the availability of skills and the access to, and the quality of, arrangements within public and private sector institutions for skill development. Based on the review of existing literature supplemented by interviews of policy-makers, practitioners, trainers and entrepreneurs in the industrial sector the paper developed the strategies and policy measures for providing technical and vocational training to meet the demands of a more liberalized and deregulated economy.

Upper Secondary Education (Grades 9-12) in the Punjab

The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank had commissioned this study to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the quantitative, qualitative, managerial, structural and financial aspects of upper secondary education (grades 9 to 12). In order to achieve these ends, the need to collect some primary data of 51 educational institutions was also recognized and taken in hand. The parameters covered in the data collection exercise for these specific tasks included, institutional enrollment by class and academic stream, qualifications, experience and teaching responsibilities of teachers, adequacy of facilities in the shape of classrooms, laboratories, libraries and instructional equipment and materials, annual recurring expenditure to operate the institution, and expenditure incurred by parents to educate their children.