Education sector — Gilgit-Baltistan
Public schools, colleges, and universities across Astore, Diamer, Ghanche, Ghizer, Gilgit, Hunza, Kharmang, Nagar, Shigar, and Skardu.
Formal public schools and higher education
About 2,000-plus public schools span primary, middle, high, and higher secondary levels. There are 27-plus government and degree or intermediate colleges, including boys’ and girls’ colleges in districts such as Gilgit and Skardu.
Two major public-sector universities are Karakoram International University, Gilgit, and the University of Baltistan, Skardu. The 2025 table also records 5 university campuses with 5,026 students.
Institutions in 2025
| Level | Institutions | Enrollment | Teaching staff | Student-teacher ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schools | 1,217 | 81,288 | 3,028 | 27 |
| Middle schools | 294 | 41,632 | 1,907 | 22 |
| High schools | 238 | 62,734 | 2,870 | 22 |
| Higher secondary schools | 41 | 16,233 | 708 | 23 |
| Elementary teacher training | 3 | 1,697 | 67 | 25 |
| Cadet colleges | 2 | 771 | 47 | 16 |
| Special education | 15 | 276 | 52 | 5 |
| Vocational and technical centres | 7 | 1,890 | 95 | 20 |
| Intermediate | 29 | 10,473 | — | — |
| AD | 9 | 1,018 | 474 | 27 |
| BS | 5 | 1,408 | — | — |
| Universities with campuses | 5 | 5,026 | 324 | 16 |
Literacy and out-of-school children
Overall literacy estimates vary from about 65% to over 72%. Some districts, including Hunza, record much higher literacy, up to 95%.
Out-of-school rates for ages 5–16 vary sharply across the ten districts because of terrain, harsh winters, and sparse infrastructure. Remote areas such as Diamer and Astore differ from Gilgit and Hunza. The regional key indicator records 25.2% out-of-school children, and primary net attendance is 47.4%.