The Education Sector Reform 2003 (ERS 2003) aimed to reform Pakistan's education system based on efficiency, equity, and poverty reduction. Key goals included achieving universal primary education, adult literacy, vocational secondary education, improving science education, technical education, quality assurance, mainstreaming madrasahs, and public-private partnerships. Reforms focused on improving infrastructure, resources, teacher training, curriculum, governance and increasing access across all levels of education.

1. Education Sector Reform 2003
1. Introduction
Education Sector Reform 2003 (ERS 2003) Program is built upon the long term vision of
the National Education Policy 1998 – 2010 and ten year perspective development plan 2001 –
2011 (Shami)
Government of Pakistan has also formulated its policy its policy for promoting economic
growth. Education for All (EFA) and Million Development Goal (MDG) including poverty in the
Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy (IPRS)
2. Aims of Education Reform Sector 2003 (ERS 2003)
1. Sector reforms based on efficiency and equity;
2. Political will to boost education as the anchor for economic revival;
3. Poverty reduction strategy program,
4. Resource mobilization from all channels;
5. Decentralization through Devolution plan ensuring Grass-Root Level participation in
educational planning and implementation;
6. Encouraging and supporting Government Private Sector partnership to meet the
challenges
7. Education For All (EFA) Action Plan and Ordinance for compulsory Primary Education;
3. Mission Statement
Developing Human Resources in Pakistan as a pre-requisite for Global Peace, Progress and
Prosperity.
4. Vision
1. Quality Education enabling all citizens to reach their maximum potential;
2. Produce responsible, enlightened and skilled citizens;
3. Integrate Pakistan into the global framework of human – centered economic
development
5. Major Area of Education
ERS 2003 was initiated in 2001, with systematic attention on major areas of education
such as:
1. Universal Primary Education (UPE)
2. Adult Literacy
3. Vocalization of General Secondary Education
4. Revamping of Science Education
5. Promotion of Technical Education
6. Quality Assurance
7. Mainstreaming of Madrasahs
8. Public Private Partnership
9. Higher Education

2. 5.1. Universal Primary Education
Target/Reform :The education for all emphasize quality universal Education ,through ensuring
access and increasing participation rate upto 100% reducing gender disparity and enhancing
completion rate 70%.
Action Plan
1. Promulgation of compulsory Primary Education Ordinance;
2. Improving infrastructure in existing primary school.
3. Initiation of Early Childhood Education stage in schools.
4. Construction of new schools
5. Community Basic Education Schools, and
6. Free textbooks for children and free Braille books to the visually handicapped people
5.2. Adult Literacy
Target/Reform: Under the Reforms National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) has
been set up with the President of Pakistan as its Chairman.
The Commission has developed district-based infrastructure to reach people. The task
encompasses establishment of literacy centers throughout the country.
The National plan of action on Education for All (2001-2015) targets to open 525.000 literacy
centers with 118,000 teachers by 2016.
The literacy program implies district specific targets, literacy cycle of 6-8 months with due
involvement of mass medic mobilization campaign.
The National Plan spells out three phases of adult literacy plan (2000-15) each phase comprising
five years with overall goals as under:
Action Plan
1. Ensuring that the learning needs of all young people and adults are met, through
equitable access to appropriate learning, life skills and citizenship program.
2. Achieving 50% improvement in the levels of adult literacy by 2015, especially for
women, and equitable access to basic and continuing education for all adults.
3. AIl, especially in literacy, flume racy and essential life skills, achieves improving all
aspects of the quality of education and ensuring excellence of ail so that recognized and
measurable learning outcomes.
5.3. Vocalization of General Secondary Education
Target/Reform: To make education meaningful and work oriented technical stream has been
introduced at secondary school level
Action Plan
1. The existing scheme of studies to be revised to accommodate a new technical stream
along with Science and Humanities streams,
2. Introduction of 34 area/gender specific trades selected against specific criteria,

3. 3. Development of teaching learning resource materials, Construction of workshops in
schools and
4. Increasing enrollment from 7 to 50
5.4. Revamping of Science Education
Target/Reform: The Reforms aimat improving quality of science education by providing
updated science equipment, professional growth of teachers and facilities.
Action Plan
1. Constriction’s of science laboratories,
2. Establishment of mathematic resource rooms,
3. Provision of equipment and consumables,
4. Development of video textbooks,
5. Training of head teachers, managers, master trainers and teachers.
5.5. Promotion of Technical Education
Target/Reform: The Reforms focus qualitative and quantitative improvements of technical
education
Action Plan
1. Establishment of one polytechnicat each district headquarters for boys,One
polytechnic for girls at each divisional headquarter,
2. One monotechnic for men in sparsely populated district,
3. One monotechnic for women in thickly populated districts.
5.6. Quality Assurance
Target: The Reforms has major target to improve quality of education
Action Plan
1. Revision of curricula for classes I-XII, harmonization of teachers training programs,
2. Introduction of multiple textbooks scheme,
3. Professional development of planners, managers, teacher educators, teachers at all
levels,
4. Setting up of professional cadre for planning and management of education,
5. Strengthening of teachers training institutions,
6. Examination reforms and setting up of examination boards in private sector,
7. Establishment of national education assessment system,
8. System of academic audit-linkage of grants/ incentives with quality,
9. Increase of non-salary budget by 3% annually.
5.7. Mainstreaming of Madrasahs
Target/Reform: The Reforms aimto streamline the religious, educational institutions in the
country for enlarging employment opportunities for their graduates and making it compatible
with the emerging needs.
Action Plan

4. 1. Incentive program to facilitate teaching of subjects like English, General Math, General
Science, Computer Science, Social Studies/ Pakistan Studies at primary and secondary
levels,
2. English, Economics, Computer Science and Pakistan Studies at higher secondary level.
3. One time grant package on affiliation with Madrasah Education Board.
4. The Reforms advocate reviewing and revising curricula of religious education.
5. Pakistan Madrasah Education Board has been established to look after the affairs of
schools.
5.8. Public Private Partnership
Target: The Reforms aim at improved service delivery through public private partnership
Action Plan
1. Offering incentive package for private sector;
2. Involvement of private sector in the management of underutilized public sector
institutions;
3. Facilitating grants and soft loans for the development of education
4. Introduction of Adopt School program;
5. Maximizing utilization of, public school buildings by school up gradation in the afternoon
shifts from primary to higher secondary levels through community participation project;
6. Introduction of information technology courses in schools through public private
partnership; etc.
5.9. Higher Education
Target/Reform: The reforms advocate shift towards human resource development through
qualitative and quantitative improvements of higher education
Action Plan
1. restrictively of research in institutions of higher learning,
2. Professional development of teachers,
3. Increasing access to higher education,
4. Increasing enrollment,
5. encouragement for private sector universities,
6. Increasing financial allocations,
7. up-gradation of science and social science programs,
8. Introduction of IT education, etc.