What is the official age of primary education in Pakistan?

What is the official age of primary education in Pakistan? (a) 3 to 7 years (b) 4 to 8 years (c) 5 to 9 years (d) 6 to 10 years ✅ Correct option: (c) 5 to 9 years Explanation (200+ words) In Pakistan, the official age group for primary education is 5 to 9 years. This age classification is used by the National Education Policy, NEC, UNESCO, and provincial education departments. Primary education consists of Classes I–V, typically completed in five years. Defining an official age group is essential for calculating key indicators such as NER and GER. Enrollment outside this age range is considered over-age or under-age enrollment. Pakistan faces challenges with late school entry, especially in rural areas, which negatively affects NER values. The 5–9 age bracket aligns with international standards and reflects child development stages suitable for foundational learning such as literacy and numeracy. PPSC frequently tests official age groups to assess understanding of education statistics. 10 PPSC Facts 1. Primary education = Classes I–V 2. Duration = 5 years 3. Official age = 5–9 years 4. Used in NER calculations 5. UNESCO standard age group 6. Late entry common in Pakistan 7. Affects enrollment indicators 8. Primary education is compulsory 9. Foundation of learning 10. Age group MCQs frequent in PPSC