ABSTRACT
Schooling in Pakistan comprises three stages: The first stage refers to primary school, which includes grades 1 to 5. Rural primary schools also include a pre-Grade 1 called kattchi, where very small children are enrolled but not formally registered,. The second stage is middle school, which includes Grades 6 to 8, and the third stage is secondary school, which includes Grades 9 to 12. However, only Grades 9 and 10 are part of high school; Grades 11 and 12 are conducted at the intermediate and degree colleges. Basic education for children, especially in the rural areas, is mainly the responsibility of the state, and schools are primarily funded and administered by the government. However, there are also two kinds of private schools: the English-medium schools that are owned by individuals, charge a high fee, and are mostly attended by the more affluent urban population; and the religious schools, including the madassah, which are often associated with a mosque and a religious organization, and are the informal home schools taught by women. The religious schools are mostly attended by the less affluent and often rural population. The private schools differ from each other in terms of curriculum, the language of the text used, and the socioeconomic background of the students and teachers.
