Education in Pakistan: Historical Roots, Current Challenges, and Future Pathways

The aim of this study is to present a systematic literature review (SLR) of education system in Pakistan. The study synthesizes historical evolution, current practices, challenges, and pathways of future reforms. Based on an interpretivist and constructivist approaches, the study used secondary sources of information from major thematic databases and publications (2015–2025) following PRISMA guidelines.
Findings of the study reveal that education system in Pakistan remains influenced by colonial legacies, structural issues, inequitable access, weaknesses in governance, and policy implementation gaps. Currently, several practices demonstrate incremental progress toward modernization, including outcomes-based education, sustainability education, and AI. However, there is scarcity of studies with empirical evidence on the effectiveness of teacher training, technology integration, and inclusiveness. According to outcomes of study a number of critical gaps exist in the field of higher education. These include lack of research in exploring outcomes of teacher development, and a weak alignment between higher education and employment prospects. The study emphasizes the need for context-sensitive, equity-driven, and technology-enabled reforms to modernize education system in Pakistan.
Theoretically, this SLR contributes by linking socio-political, historical, and pedagogical perspectives. Practically, it provides insights for educators, institutional leaders, and policy makers. Overall, this focuses on bridging historic disparities, strengthening governance, and providing sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready education in Pakistan.

Education system in Pakistan, Historical legacies, Teacher training

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