The Pakistan Learning Conference 2023 is being organized by the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training (MoFEPT) to address the critical issues in early childhood education and foundational reading skills. The event is being held in response to concerning statistics such as only 16.3% of Pakistani children being enrolled in pre-primary education, and only 15% of grade 3 students able to read a story in their regional language with comprehension.

The two-day conference, taking place on 21st and 22nd June 2023 at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, aims to gather policy makers, educators, NGOs and international experts to strategize on enhancing early childhood education and foundational reading. The conference is an opportunity to consolidate a national commitment towards children’s education and rally all federating units for improved investment in this crucial area.

Despite numerous initiatives, Pakistan still faces significant challenges like insufficient investment in early childhood education, inadequate teacher training for early years, insufficient resources, and wide-ranging disparities due to poverty, gender, and region. The conference aims to tackle these issues by generating consensus among key stakeholders on the urgent need for increased focus and investment in early childhood education and foundational reading.