Education of Disadvantaged Children in OIC:
The Key to Escape from Poverty
164
Measuring Inequality of Opportunity in Access to Education in Pakistan using the Human
Opportunity Index
Using the DHS data, this section will analyse the inequality of opportunity in education using the
Human Opportunity Index (HOI) approach (see Annex 1 for further details on methodology and
interpretation).
Human Opportunity Indices for education indicators for Pakistan remain low, especially
for the completion rate indicators (Se . At 65.5 percent in 2012, the HOI is highest
for the attendance to school for 6-11 year olds among other education indicators. Coverage and
equality of opportunity is highest for this indicator compared to other indicators for Pakistan in
2012. The HOI is lower for attendance to school for 12-15 year olds at 54.5 percent. The HOI for
finishing 5 years of education (For 12-15 year olds) and finishing 8 years of education (for 16-18
year olds) are below 50 percent each at 42.8 and 32.4 percent respectively.
Figure 59 HOI, Coverage and Equality of Opportunities for Pakistan, 1990-2012
Source: Authors’ calculations using DHS 1990 and DHS 2012
HOI for education indicators improved between 1990 and 2012 for Pakistan. During this
period the HOI increased by 20.6, 11.1, 13.6 and 11.3 percentage points for attendance to school
for 6-11 year olds, attendance to school for 12-15 year olds, finishing 5 years of education and
finishing 8 years of education respectively. The improvements were due to both increases in
coverage and improvements in equality of opportunities. However, coverage remains low and
inequality remains high, especially for the indicators on finishing education.
2012
1990
2012
1990
2012
1990
2012
1990
50
60
70
80
90
100
0,0 20,0 40,0 60,0 80,0 100,0
Equality of Opportunity (1-D)
Coverage
Attendance 6-11
year olds
Attendance 12-
15 year olds
Finishing 5 years
of education
Finishing 8 years
of education
HOI=40
%
HOI=60
%
HOI=80
%
HOI=20
%