Islamabad: Nearly 34 percent of government schools and more than 16 percent of private schools in Pakistan still operate without electricity, while significant disparities persist between the two sectors in access to clean drinking water, toilets, laboratories, libraries and internet connectivity, according to Gallup Pakistan’s analysis of the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) Pakistan 2025.
The analysis found that only 66.7 percent of government schools have electricity compared with 83.6 percent of private schools, highlighting a persistent infrastructure gap that continues to affect the learning environment of millions of children across the country.
Government schools also lag behind private institutions in several other basic facilities. Only 65.5 percent of public schools reported having access to clean drinking water compared with 79.8 percent of private schools, while student toilet facilities were available in 66.4 percent of government schools against 79.5 percent of private schools.
School safety infrastructure showed a similar pattern. Boundary walls were present in 75.8 percent of government schools, compared with 86.2 percent of private schools, leaving nearly one-quarter of public-sector schools without complete perimeter protection.
The report suggests that deficiencies in basic infrastructure remain a major challenge for public education despite years of investment aimed at improving access and educational outcomes.
The gap becomes even more pronounced when learning resources are examined. Only 16.1 percent of government schools had computer laboratories, nearly half the proportion recorded in private schools, where 31.3 percent reported having such facilities.
Science laboratories were available in only 12.7 percent of government schools compared with 27.4 percent of private institutions, limiting opportunities for practical science education and experimentation.
Libraries, which play a key role in literacy and independent learning, were also found to be scarce in public-sector schools. Working libraries were available in only 16 percent of government schools, compared with 32.6 percent of private schools.
The analysis further highlighted Pakistan’s continuing digital divide within the education sector. Internet connectivity was available in 43 percent of government schools and 54 percent of private schools. However, classroom-level internet access remained limited in both sectors, reaching only 11 percent of government schools and 17 percent of private schools.
Researchers noted that limited access to digital technologies restricts opportunities for technology-assisted learning and reduces students’ preparedness for an increasingly digital economy.
Teacher support and student welfare facilities also showed substantial disparities. Day-care facilities for teachers were available in only 10.2 percent of government schools compared with 22 percent of private schools. First-aid facilities were present in 33.1 percent of public schools and 55.7 percent of private schools, while sick rooms were available in just 11.5 percent and 22.8 percent of schools respectively.
Another challenge identified in the analysis was the prevalence of multigrade teaching, where students from different grade levels are taught together in a single classroom. Such arrangements were reported in 30 percent of government schools compared with 20 percent of private schools.
Education experts generally regard multigrade classrooms as a reflection of shortages of teachers, classrooms and other resources, factors that can affect instructional quality and learning outcomes.
Gallup Pakistan said the findings indicate that although educational access has expanded over the years, major inequalities remain in infrastructure and learning facilities. The organisation stressed that addressing deficits in electricity, water, sanitation, laboratories, libraries and digital connectivity would be critical to improving educational quality and ensuring more equitable learning opportunities for children across Pakistan.
The analysis is based on data from ASER Pakistan 2025, one of the country’s largest citizen-led assessments of educational access, school infrastructure and learning conditions.