Dual System of Education and Poverty Persistence

The Pakistan National Education Policy of 1999 lamented that there was an almost a caste-like distinction between those who feel at ease in expressing themselves in formal and those who do not. This situation continues to exist and is a product of the country's education system, which appears to suffer from a kind of 'educational apartheid'. There are two broad streams of education, characterized basically by the medium of instruction and philosophy of school of thought. One stream uses English and imparts secular or modern education and the other uses Urdu, Arabic and Persian which provide religious education. English-medium schools can be further divided into two broad categories. First, 'elite' schools run by missionary or other institutions, and private schools that charge at least a four-figure monthly tuition fee per child and whose total education costs per child can even approach five figures. And second, 'non-elite' private schools that charge up to a three figure monthly tuition per child. But the philosophy and objective behind this system is similar. Urdu-medium educational institutions can also be classified into two broad categories.