Education Governance and Article 25-A in Pakistan: A Comparative Study with Finland Education Governance Model

Abstract

Education governance is a set of rules, laws, and policies that shows how decisions are made, resources are allocated, and standards are maintained across the public and private schooling sectors. In Pakistan, Right to Education is guaranteed under Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973, which incorporates free and compulsory education for all children aged 5-16, yet after many years, its implementation is lacking. Factors such as poverty, population growth, regional inequality, gender disparities, political instability, weak infrastructure, institutional mechanisms and governance structure continue to be persistent issues in Pakistan that hinder access to and completion of education. Finland, on the other hand, is regarded as a global leader due to its low levels of Socioeconomic Inequality, Good Infrastructure, Adequate Funding sources for a strong education governance structure. The Foundation of the Finnish educational system is based on equity, which ensures that every child, regardless of background, has access to a top-notch education through state-funded schools and generous social support. This study provides the structural and functional aspects of governance in both countries, highlighting the effectiveness of their legal frameworks and the practical challenges faced. At the end, study provides the way forward for Pakistan, to improve its education governance structure and adopt Finland trust-based governance model to meet International Standards.