As a nation, we face a multitude of serious issues — economic stagnation, rising unemployment, declining health and educational sectors, and other rigorous problems. Among these issues, one of the most critical and damaging ones that has brought tremendous barriers to the development of the country is the improper educational system.
According to Article 25-A in the Constitution of Pakistan, it guarantees free education till the age of 16. Unfortunately, Pakistan has failed to provide a cohesive national education policy. Nonetheless, education brings transformation to scientific knowledge, advancement, and introduces new methods of learning in the modern world. However, such guarantees for the children, and on the other hand, Pakistan consists of thousands of primary, middle, and high schools. Unfortunately, many of these schools consist of a single room, where facilities have been missing since the walls were built. This indicates the country’s flawed education system. Although it is reported that a large number of children are out of school, over 1 million children lack access to education, and a significant proportion of both girls and boys have never attended school. Less than 20% of students continue their studies under challenging conditions. It reveals a bleak state of Pakistan’s educational prosperity.
According to a report in Dawn newspaper, the decline in preference for school enrolment has been narrowly divided among elite schools, semi-government schools, and private schools. The reason is the poor quality of education. Despite numerous initiatives from the government, like providing free books, school meals, stipends, and merit-based recruitment programs, the quality of teaching and human development in classrooms and centers, the quality of education has not improved. Moreover, we have failed to implement or pursue the international standards of education provided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure quality education for our children.
It indicates that either our parenting strategies or the lack of adequate state policies are inadequate, as we continue to suffer from this problem. Sometimes, our sublime past indicates that only 0.08 percent of GDP, according to the Pakistan Economic Survey, is allocated for meeting the demands of modern educational purposes, which is not enough to help us achieve our goals at a larger level. Quality education is not on the list of priorities for our politicians and bureaucracy.
Realistically, our politicians are reluctant to provide quality education because they do not want to see an educated class, as their careers would be at stake. Their motive for maintaining the status quo is solely to provide essential services, including sewerage lines, water, electricity, and roads, as these can reduce the likelihood of resistance from the people. Therefore, political parties try to put pressure only on provisions of inessential policies that have nothing to do with education. Unfortunately, the accountability of politicians is inefficient, whereas the bureaucracy is more effective.
To make children’s careers bright, we must shift our colonial mentality and evolve in the 21st century. Our considerations must be the provision of quality education, rather than creating only a comfortable environment for students. The only way to bring change in society is through a change in old ideas.
About the author:
Shafqat Baloch
SIT QuettaShafqat Baloch is a SIT Hub alumnus and a former member staff. After completing his F.Sc, he aims to pursue Economics at GCU Lahore.
