Issues with Pakistan's Education System (Part II)

 Impacts:

          The education system of Pakistan, despite towering claims and plans, has not only imparted serious ills on development of the masses but also on the system of education. There is, however, lack of cohesion in the system and is more prone towards general education; ultimately, it does not bring any skilled manpower to the market – which results in increasing unemployment. Vividly, the current educational curriculum and methodology do not meet modern standards of the real meaning of education and research. Hence, this curriculum is not promoting the interest of the learners – for practical work, research, scientific knowledge, and reflective observation, rather, it emphasizes only on memorizing and theoretical work. Adding more to it, the examination system promotes rote learning and cramming in the students, which negates the role of high intellectual power of learners in the education process such as: critical thinking, reflection, and analytical skills. Further exploring the impacts, child labor and poverty are the reasons of maximum dropouts from schools. An estimated only 30 percent of children enrolled in primary education reach only to the matriculation. Thus, impacts are crucial for the education system in today's developing world.

Adding more about impacts, the unintentionally imposing effects of the government, have also delivered a spiking impacts on the education. In Pakistan, somehow, the doldrums condition of education is mainly due to its policy formulation. Sorting impacts, the low resources thwarted the conditions, as there are overcrowded classrooms, inadequate teachers, and ill-equipped laboratories – which resulted in a situation of despair. Finally, in many of the developing regional countries, such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh etc, the budgetary allocation for education has increased with time, but in Pakistan – it is declining day-by-day. Insufficient allocations, finally, are hardly touching the targets for improving education standards. This is a clear indication of issues related to education condition in Pakistan, which have almost impacted the system to the ebb, so the need is felt to tackle the crisis condition and to formulate a proper framework of policies.

How issues in education can be tackled

Although the circumstances are critical to handle, but intelligent policies have the potential to overcome issues of the education system, if the following steps are being followed:

There should be sufficient budget for the education system to meet its requirement, which is to be allocated within the national GDP.

There should be quality institutions and training centers at governmental level of professional development of the teachers.

The system of accountability must be enhanced and strengthened, and all the experts associated with it should be educated to know and own their responsibilities.

Curriculum should be evaluated regularly on a yearly basis, and required changes and suggestions for re-defining should be entertained. In this regard, a vast survey could be conducted to seek opinions of teachers, parents, and the community.

Educational policies should be implemented with an immediate effect, which would cause no delay of time and resources. A strong political will on the part of the government is required to implement policies in education departments.

Examination system – government and private – should be made free from any interference of mafia, corruption, and illegal gratifications. For this, the accountability system of supervision and checking could be improved.

The culture of research should be promoted within educational institutions at all levels.

“The learning process continues until the day you die” – Kirk Douglas

Critical Analysis

          Critically, the current education system will lead the country in total despair; in fact, it has lead Pakistan. While, it was aptly said by Quaid-e-Azam that, “Education is a matter of life and death for Pakistan. The world is progressing so rapidly that without a requisite advance in education, not only shall we be left behind others but may be wiped out altogether”. Education system, positively, need reforms to curb issues and challenges of the modern era. Socially, citizens need employments after qualification which is nothing but an incentive after formal education. Researchers, moreover, are needed at national level to study the modern world’s education systems, which afterwards will help in devising a comprehensive education system. Lastly, through enlightenment in education, rural areas’ is in dire need to be aware of highlighted education problems. Therefore, we need to educate the young generation, and, essentially, if we are desirous to contribute in harmonious and prosperous Pakistan.

Conclusion:

      Conclusively, education develops nations in all domains of life, such as, social, moral, spiritual, political, and economic. It is, however, a dynamic force which almost entitles every nation to achieve its national goals in a befitting manner. With effective educational systems, countries are mostly playing a leading role in the comity of nations. Similarly, the Pakistani education system has not been adhered the role effectively in nation building. Moreover, the future generation of Pakistan has no direction at all due to a devastating education system, which has intensively hampered to raise the nation on sound economic, social, political, and moral grounds. Additionally, the education system has inculcating outdated information and knowledge in today’s student – which is outrageously distracting students in current changing scenarios of the world. Finally, graduates passing-out from Pakistani education institutes are theoretically sound, but, ultimately, they have practically no skills to apply in the fields. Therefore, the article concludes that there is a dire need of reforms in the education system in Pakistan.