LAHORE: A high-level policy dialogue held at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) has called for stronger evidence-based reforms to improve girls' retention in middle schools and enhance the inclusion of children from religious minority backgrounds.
According to Lahore University of Management Sciences, the third Policy Dialogue was convened by the Data and Research in Education - Research Consortium (DARE-RC) alongside the Syed Ahsan Ali and Syed Maratib Ali School of Education at LUMS. This event brought together senior policymakers, researchers, and development partners to translate research findings into actionable policy measures.
Mudassar Riaz Malik, Secretary of the School Education Department in Punjab, emphasized the operational importance of research-policy collaboration. He stated the necessity of grounding decisions in evidence and moving towards evidence-based policymaking. Malik highlighted that the issue often lies in structural challenges rather than policy itself and called for converting research recommendations into concrete, implementable action plans to strengthen the education system.
Ben Warrington, Head of the British High Commission Office in Lahore, noted the need to connect research with reform. He emphasized that strengthening education requires an ecosystem approach and practical decision-making grounded in evidence.
The session also featured presentations by Dr. Zainab Latif from Tabadlab and Dr. Ibtasam Thakur from Lahore College for Women University, who shared research findings on barriers to girls' middle-school retention and the educational experiences of children from religious minority backgrounds, respectively.
The interactive panel discussion included LUMS faculty members Drs. Faisal Bari and Tayyaba Tamim, alongside policymakers and development experts, focusing on retention strategies, teacher training reforms, and strengthening inclusive education frameworks. The dialogue underscored the importance of coordinated reforms and sustained collaboration to advance equitable and quality education in Pakistan.