Education Sector — Dera Ismail Khan Division
Three districts — Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, and South Waziristan — public schools, colleges, universities, literacy, and out-of-school children (ages 5–16).
This data is for the entire Dera Ismail Khan Division (3 districts).
Formal public schools
Total1,500+Approximate division-wide census of formal public schools. Level figures below are approximate lower-bound counts.
Colleges & universities
Limited higher-education infrastructure; main facilities are concentrated in Dera Ismail Khan city. Total colleges (intermediate/degree) across the division: 40–50.
Key universities (Dera Ismail Khan city)
- Gomal University
- University of Agriculture, Dera Ismail Khan
Formal public schools by level (division)
| Level | Schools |
|---|---|
| Primary | 900+ |
| Elementary / Middle | 300+ |
| High | 200+ |
| Higher Secondary | 50+ |
| Division total (approx., all formal public) | 1,500+ |
Schools by level (approx.)
Primary schools account for the majority of formal public institutions in the division.
Dera Ismail Khan District — detailed school counts
District-level baseline data by gender, plus higher-education institutions. District literacy: 46.58%.
| Level | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | 767 | 473 | 1,240 |
| Middle | 115 | 75 | 190 |
| High | 81 | 46 | 127 |
| Higher Secondary (HSS) | 29 | 14 | 43 |
| Degree Colleges | 12 | 6 | 18 |
Universities: 2 — Gomal University and University of Agriculture, Dera Ismail Khan.
Literacy (PBS 2023)
| Area | Adult literacy |
|---|---|
| KP Average | 50–55% |
| Dera Ismail Khan Division | 41.73% |
| Dera Ismail Khan District | 46.58% |
Dera Ismail Khan Division sits below the KP average. Other estimates referenced for the division (see home page) place overall literacy around 47%; figures vary by source and survey year, and youth literacy is lower still in rural and tribal areas. Division-wide, over 264,000 children aged 5–16 are out of school.
Literacy comparison
KP average shown as the midpoint of the reported 50–55% range.
Out-of-school children (ages 5–16)
School-age children are typically 5–16 years. The sections below summarize district-level patterns, then division-wide totals.
Dera Ismail Khan District
Out-of-school rate: 24–28%+, with the best outcomes in urban Dera Ismail Khan.
Tank District
Out-of-school rate: 25–32%.
South Waziristan
Out-of-school rate: 30–40%+, with significant gender gaps — the worst-performing district in the division.
Dera Ismail Khan Division — out-of-school children (5–16 years)
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Male out of school | 20–30% |
| Female out of school | 30–45% |
| Total out of school | 26–32% |
| Worst district (rate) | South Waziristan |
| Best district (rate) | Urban Dera Ismail Khan |
| Total out-of-school children (division) | 264,000+ |
Chart values use the midpoint of each reported range.