The Plight of Education in PakistanOutline 1.Introduction 2.A glance at stastic 3.Obstacles on way of Education 3.1. Lack of budget 3.2.Poor infrastructure 3.3.Political influence 3.4.Violation of merit 3.5.Feudalism 3.6. Taliban against girls education 3.7. Islam emphasizes on education 3.6.Drawbacks in policies and out-dated syllabus 4. Medium of language 4.Effects 5.Suggestions 6.Conclusion Introduction The Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan abides the state to provide free education to the children age between 5 and 16 years. Thus It directly implies that this the due responsibility of the government to cater for the boys/girls education. Equip them with standard ,quality and modern education. Both social sciences and professional and technical education should be made an easy approach for the students. In this regard, drawing policies and its implementation is the duty of the government aiming at to promote education in the country. Sadly to say , the successive governments ignored the education sector.Many policies were framed but all of them remained unimplemented due to the lack of the interest in the education sector at official level. As a result ,today education field presents a dismal picture when the advanced nations declared this era as the Digital Age. The available statistics shows that literacy rate in the country had been 57% by the end of 2012.It included 69% boys and 45% girls. This enrollment was noted as 2650,000 at primary level ,28800 secondary level ,and 1349000 above secondary level .In this connection,an other report reveals that only 18% girls avail a ten year compulsory education which is unsatisfactory ratio. Ironically literacy rate In Islamabad is 98% but 28 % in Kolhu ,a district of Balochistan.In Fata it is 9% (including Nazeera Quran ).Such a big difference in the same country speaks volume of lack of interest of the government .The government allocated 3% of the GDP till 2008.But later on it was enhanced to 7% of the GDP in the fiscal year of 2009-2010 and onward. The fact is that the present percentage is not enough for the huge population. It needs revolutionary changes. In this regard the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has allocated 20 % ,a best example ,needed to be followed by other provinces as well. Because of the insufficient budget ,there is no proper management and infrastructure in the education sector. There is no potable water for students. No management of sanitation and no electricity and no clean environment at the institutions. In the sizzling weather , the students are taught under trees at villages. A large number of students face weakness due to malnutrition. The Sunre is no desks, not table and even no taat for students to sit on it.No facilities for the teaching staff. Political influence and highhandedness in the education sector is an other menace. Officers of the department concerned are forced to issue orders of transfer and appointment by the political activists and leaders. This irrelevant intervention creates obstacles in planning and management. The officers are vulnerable to the political influence. In case any dare devil officer refuses the order of political figure, he/she is transferred to other far flung areas or /her services are temporarily suspended as a punishment. Similarly violation of merit is an other problem. Firstly the political leaders and their alleged involvement based on nepotism ,favoritism hamper the system.In an other case ministers do put pressure on the official to appoint their persons. Some of the officers of the education sector take advantage of the situation and receive bribe from the candidates and make their appointment. This brings black sheep under the name of education sector. Thus the educational institutions are left at the mercy of incompetent teachers. They play with the future of the students. A dull teacher cannot produce talent. Feduals ,Waderas,Maliks,Sardars and Nawab are one of the big hampers on way towards education. They send their children to European countries for higher education but sadly to say they do not allow education to the boys of their respective villages, locality and districts for the fear that after getting education the boys will grow and become officers. These officers will challenger their writ and dominance being prevailed in the area. Subsequently ,ignorance prevails in the area concerned where the poor people lead life under abject poverty. To get education is one of the basic rights of human beings but the narrow mindedness on the part of the feudals ,Wadaras & Limited keep the poor away from acquiring education. An other episode against female education emerged in Swat and its adjoining areas where the girls are not allowed to get education by the Taliban. More than 450 schools have been destroyed by bomb blasts. Girls were threatened not to attend the schools. They were mentally tortured. Mala Yousafzai came on screen fighting against Taliban by the help of penprick.She was targeted but God gave her new life after a prolong treatment in the UK.She received a number of awards for daring to write against the forced Islam of the Taliban. Truth is that Islam never forbids girls from getting education.In fact, Islam emphasizes on getting education. The Holy Quran teaches us : Translation : Read ,read in the name of Allah who created you. So it is crystal clear that there is strong emphasize on human being to receive education. During the battle of Badr 72 infidels were captured and were declared as Prisoners of War (POWs).When they demanded to get them freed ,the Holy Prophet(SAW) put a condition before them asking the one who teaches to 10 Muslims will be released. The teaching of Islam have been pioneering for Muslims.The self-introduced cruel rules of the Taliban could not stop girls from education. At government level ,there are reports of poor policies of management and its implementation .There is lack of inter-communication among the teachers and policy makers. In this regard research from gross root level ,say it primary level on the standard of the students, can help to provide a good road map that may help in the formation of planning phase and implementation.For example during the process of composing new syllabus the standard of the area or relevant province is not kept under consideration. The Self-composed syllabus is superimposed on the heads of students, away from ground facts. Such policies having a number of drawbacks which cannot help uplifting the standard of education.Creativity could not take place in the minds of students. The students cram questions and produce answer in the examination. They do not read it as conceptual study. It is not the fault of students. Basically ,there is fault in the system. Medium of language is still an enigma in the sector. According to the Constitution, English is the official language and Urdu is national language of the state. Ironically medium of education is un-decided. The poor are taught in Urdu in Urdu medium schools while the rich in English at their own resources in very high expenses private educational institution. This factor develops complexity of superiority and inferiority as a whole in the nation. It is therefore dubbed Double Standard Education .In term of learning languages ,the Pakistanis, perhaps, are the unique nation of the world who learn three languages at a time .First mother tongue, second Urdu and third English as a foreign language. Interestingly except those who seek education in English medium schools ,the others have no command on any of the three languages. It is a matter of concern after elapsing a period of 67 year, our policy makers yet to decide whether to select Urud or English for learning purposes. Effects of the neglecting education cab be seen in various forms and shapes. These are ratio of extreme poverty,ignorane,crimes,terrorism ,anti-social activities and many more. Every passing day ,the country experiences new crisis . There is no proper planning at official level to take concrete steps for making reforms in defective and out-dated system. What the country faces today is the result of flawed education system. The fault is our own. As a nation we never thought for the future of the country. The following suggestions may help to resolve the existing faults in education system. (i).First and foremost, the budget should be increased according to the population. Infrastructure must be renovated and teachers should be paid a reasonable salary in order they will lead a respectable life. (ii).Education must be made corruption free sector. (iii). No more political influence. Politics must be banned in institutions. (iv).Sincere and honest officers in the sector must be inducted. (v).Violation of the merit must be discouraged. (vI).Feudalisms must be overcome. (vii). One language for all must be applied. Urdu or English? (vIII). There should be no more exercise of double standard education. (ix).Teachers Union should not play role as pressure group. Undutiful and unpunctual teachers must not be protected at any rate. (x).Technical education must be encouraged in the entire country. Conclusion Though education is one of the neglected sectors in the country , yet there are rays of hopes that the sector will receive the due attention of our rulers. Because the current disease of cancer type in the country is due to low standard education. Under developed countries of Asia as India,Sri Lanka ,Bangladesh ,Nepal and Bhotan have been paying serious heed to the sector. To run with them and meet the challenges of future, Pakistan needs to focus on uplifting the ratio and standard of education for the future bright of next generation. End
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 13:22:16 +0000