Alarming Drop in Engineering Students Raises Concerns
A recent study reveals a sharp drop in engineering student enrollments in Pakistan.
In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), enrollments fell from 16,005 in 2017 to just 3,895 in 2024, a 76% decrease. The study, by Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad and Umar Ahmad Noor, warns this trend could harm the country’s engineering sector and related fields.
Data from the Engineering Entrance Test (ETEA) at UET Peshawar shows a significant decline in applicants from 15,529 in 2018 to 3,895 in 2024. Similarly, nationwide figures reveal pre-engineering enrollments dropped from 54% of students in 2015 to 35% in 2023.
This trend calls for urgent action by the Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Science and Technology, and Pakistan Engineering Council to revitalize engineering education in the country.
