Pakistan’s education system is facing renewed criticism after officials revealed that nearly 17,000 children in Islamabad are still out of school, while concerns over the integrity of the Cambridge examination system have intensified following reports of a leaked Mathematics exam paper, The Express Tribune reported. The issue came to light during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Education, where authorities shared findings showing that thousands of children across 30 union councils in the federal capital remain without access to formal schooling.

During the session, Joint Secretary for Education Hameed Niazi informed committee members that a survey had already been completed and the government aims to enrol all out-of-school children by May 30. The meeting, chaired by Acting Chairperson Syeda Aamna Batool, featured updates from several education-related bodies, including the Ministry of Education, the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA), and the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC).

Committee member Shazia Soomro strongly criticised the absence of both the Education Minister and the Education Secretary, pointing out that lawmakers consistently attend these meetings while senior officials often remain missing. Director General Education Junaid Akhlaq told the panel that admissions in federal government schools are being carried out strictly on merit and that approximately 32,000 seats are currently available in government-run institutions.

Meanwhile, former PEIRA chairman Ghulam Ali Mallah disclosed that officials had identified around 50 unregistered schools operating in Islamabad. Inspection teams have now been assigned to investigate and take appropriate action. He further stated that private schools would now be legally required to allocate 10 per cent of admissions free of cost to underprivileged students. According to the report, nearly 500 out of around 1,600 schools have already submitted compliance documents.

The committee also voiced serious concern over allegations that a Cambridge Mathematics examination paper had been leaked. IBCC officials confirmed that Cambridge authorities had acknowledged the incident and had been asked to provide a detailed clarification. Reacting to the controversy, Shazia Soomro remarked that while Pakistan’s local examination boards are often criticised for transparency issues, the latest incident has now cast doubts on the credibility and fairness of the internationally recognised Cambridge examination system as well.