Education: The Forgotten Essential

Education is regarded as a backbone of any country on which future of the country relies and education has a strong correlation with social and economic development but this sector remained stagnant through inception and never given importance it needs. There is old sayings that “invest in rubies so that you can earn profit in diamonds”, this is the right saying at this time for the education sector at the moment so that we can see the substantial future. Pakistan came into being in the name of Islam which emphasizes every Muslim to get education. It is a right of every muslim to get education as it has been made compulsory for every person of every age in the society. Our whole society is suffering due to lack of education. Pakistan is a country of 170 million people from which 65 % population is below 25. Currently we are going through lowest literacy rate in the world and discrimination in gender has not decreased, females are not allowed to get education as females have 42 % literacy rate that is far below than satisfactory. Our society has deteriorated its norms, values and culture just due to narrow mindedness and intolerance. One major problem is also child labor, children that should be going school end up earning livelihood for their family.

Now when we come towards the causes of this slow growth of education sector, we come across a lot of problems. In order for Pakistan to survive in coming years it is highly projected that education needs to come as one of the biggest agenda of Pakistan. First of all, I will talk about political commitment of the government. Every govt. brings its own educational system that has resulted in multiple education system which is biased in nature. A large number of students are unable to attend schools due to shortage of schools. Basically there is lack of management in this sector. An interview of governmemt schools teachers was taken by me asking them the problems of govt. schools. They told me that every work other than teaching is also given to them. On asking they told that works like census, dengue campaign, elections are also taken by them forgoing their academic duties of primary school teachers who are the backbone of the nation as in they make they have strengthen the basics of the students. According to them, they hardly get time to teach students. Moreover the factors that affect education system are qualified teachers, basic facilities, proper funding, comprehensive curriculums, limited tuition fees and scholarship to deserving students. When we talk at upper level i.e. higher studies we are still doing general and liberal degrees like B.A and M.A, there is no development in the research sector.

All these things will be done when budget will be increased. She should be a good financial commitment to improve the current condition. Then when we talk about teacher, there should be full qualified teachers who know their subject and have full command on it. Government should hire fresh blood that is new teacher who can teach according to the modern methods. Allocation of funds should be made easy from provinces to districts and then to educational institutes. Workshops must be arranged for teachers.  Teachers, professors and educationists should be consulted while devising any plan, syllabus or policy. Teachers should be only given the task of teaching the student other than census; dengue campaign etc. there should be proper book banks which provide books to the students on daily basis. Teaching curriculum should be changed as in children should be trained practically from the start rather than theoretically. Student’s primary focus should be on English, Mathematics, Sciences and general knowledge.  The state seems to give up her responsibility and totally relying on private sector. The need of time is to bring education in its original form to masses. Burdening a students with so much books will not work as he will not understand what the world is going to do next moment. Education is the only cure of the destability in the state and can bring revolution through evolution, by eradicating the social evils. This is how to remove literacy in Pakistan

 Mohsin Mahmood

Section H

10U0593