Education Problems in Pakistan

No country can survive smoothly in this Technology-driven World without

Education. Today, almost all the segments of the society (labor, businessmen, employees etc) are accepting the importance of Education. However, Education in Pakistan is always treated step-motherly by the every successive government. Consequently, today, we are facing gloomy situation and have only 58 percent literacy rate. In terms of OUT-OF-SCHOOL CHILDREN, Pakistan is ranked 2nd in list of world, with 7 million children not attending primary school and 3 million who will never see the inside of a classroom. We have prepared ten Education Policies, these were of very high-quality but none of them was implemented at full length. In result, this department is worsened at that levels that MDG targets are beyond our limits and we are ranked lowest in Human Development Index (HDI) and many other Indexes. In 2005-06, the share of Education was about 2.5 percent in the GPD but in 2010 it decreased to 1.6 percent. Whereas, many Educationalists are suggesting 5 percent share in GDP. But, Education and literacy rates are not the Issue of Finance. According to a recent report in Dawn newspaper, there are 26 countries poorer than Pakistan; however, their school sending ratio is higher than Pakistan. On the other hand, there are some Researchers who say that, due to low pay of teachers they are performing poorly, this is not true. Because, according to a local survey, the government teachers are paid twothird more than their counterparts of low cost Private School teachers (mostly in Rural Areas). But according to my opinion, today the sorry state of Education in Pakistan is because of Lack of Political Will, commitment and determination. By the grace of Almighty Allah, we the people of Pakistan are more intelligent than any other nation of the world. We have proved this in many international competitions. But, here the talent is ruthlessly executed. By law literacy department is the responsibility of State. There are so many Problems of Education in Pakistan. Some of them are discussed here.

By: Muhammed Zain Dodhiya (BSCS-2012-Morning)

Page 2

Education Problems in Pakistan

Corruption in Education Department:

As of 2010, 24% of those surveyed reported that they themselves or a family member received educational admission through non-normal. The countrys biggest issue is presence of non uniform educational system. On one hand there are institutions modeled on western educational system; this system is run by private sector educational institutes that charge fees an ordinary citizen cannot afford. So essentially these institutes are utilized by the elite class (Politicians, Technocrats, Bureaucrats, Business class) .The same is also the reason for deteriorating standards of Public Sector educational institutes. As the elite class only enroll there children in private schools modeled on western institutes. Then there are public sector schools that face increasing challenges and due to incompetence of consecutive Governments have only accelerated the rate of their decline. Lack of funding, elite class non utilization, Poor Governance, under qualified Faculty are some of the reasons for their falling standards. Corruption in education sector is not a novice in Pakistan. Embezzlement of funds , Thousands of ghost schools ( those that only exist in papers), taking bribe to sell confidential material to candidates, Poor utilization of funds, Educational Ministry run by illiterate politicians that lack vision for education.

Misconception of Purpose:
It is also a dreadful fact that todays young ones have changed their motives pertaining to acquiring education. Actually, the education should be for the purpose of getting education as it has been wisely said; but, we have changed the slogan, education should be for the purpose of getting jobs. If, we keep on remaining this theory in mind then we will be digressed from our way and education will be out of our reach. By getting education man can come to know the ways that how he could be able to lead his life in the best and a possible way.

Low share in the Budget:

Since its inception, Pakistan has remained a weak economy of the world for it has got nothing in its just assets that were aggressively snatched by India. This let the newly born state deprived of riches and started the era of economical setbacks that have yet been faced by Pakistan. The conflict between the two countries over Kashmir issue has hardly allowed the
By: Muhammed Zain Dodhiya (BSCS-2012-Morning) Page 3

Education Problems in Pakistan

government to consider and allocate sufficient funds in budget for other sectors, the education is not an exception in this regard. Still, only 2% of GDP is allocated for the welfare of education, which is quite inappropriate to meet the demands of education. And it is worth to note that this minute allocation of budget is too not spent for educational purposes, the whole money is taken away by using unfair means by the concerned officials. All these funds are not given through a proper channel so that a false audit report is submitted that the utilization of funds has been spent on requisite purposes.

No merit system:
The United States has had an influx of foreign students since 2008. While the percentage of these students has risen to high levels, the fact that most of these students have passed through without even getting an education is unbelievable. This sort of 'admission practice' is also happening in the United Kingdom and in Australia as well. A lot of students from China, India, Thailand and Pakistan are gaining university admission not because of their educational merit, but because they have a large amount of money to hand over. Some US, UK, Australia, International students from abroad are literally paying their way to good grades instead of studying and learning to get them. The admission of these students like this is an outrage and a manifest violation of merit and civilized norms. This is especially true when this practice has affected the admissions of those local students who want to join universities purely on educational merit.

Un-Employment:
Unemployment is on full swing throughout the country. Country has been facing huge economical setbacks since its independence. The poor economy of the country cannot meet at once the demand of employment of the countrymen at once. On the one hand the disappointed youth, keeping their degrees in hand, wander the whole day in search of job but No-Vacancy signboards inflate their disappointment on the other. This situation creates negative creation of thoughts in their minds; concluding, they come out as dacoits to waylay and let their names to been listed in criminal lists; and society faces much more troubles through this kind of restlessness.

By: Muhammed Zain Dodhiya (BSCS-2012-Morning)

Page 4

Education Problems in Pakistan

Copy Culture:
The education system has been demolishing and losing its values due to the Copy Culture in Pakistan. Now the question rises why copying in exams has become our culture?? As far as I have observed the govt. is kind of responsible to it and the examiners who has been acting very carelessly while checking the copies and issuing results? Furthermore, the books that are studied by students are written by the best authors and are not so difficult to understand but despite of that students are not able to appear successfully in final exams that is because teachers are not concerned to make them a good learner student lack the ability of reading and writing English language hence they think that it is the most toughest job to memorize their subjects. Plagiarism has also become the part of our culture, which has further damaged the educational system of Pakistan.

Irrelevant Induction of Staff:

It has been a dilemma of our educational system that it has embodied irrelevancy in inducting its staff; broadly speaking, it has been generally observed that if a person has some specialization in some particular subject but he seems to be teaching something else. More openly, if someone has got his/her masters in English Literature, he seems to be teaching Mathematics to his/her students. The fact remains that students cannot learn firsthand and ground information regarding their subjects. Nepotism is kept on priority while induction of staff, the induction of staff on quota basis has made impotent the working format of the educational system. Ministers choose their relatives for induction without thinking that either they could serve better or will create complications for others.

Un-Trained Faculties:
In Pakistan, the teachers are not well trained according to the latest education and its requirements. As science is progressing day by day, the teachers of Pakistan lacks behind educating themselves professional with the latest education to keep them updated and also teach their students accordingly. This is because Pakistan is technologically backward and has less educational resources.

By: Muhammed Zain Dodhiya (BSCS-2012-Morning)

Page 5

Education Problems in Pakistan

Feudalists:
Feudalism and education are anathema, indeed, to each other. One derogates the other. Different feudal dynasties control half a dozen political parties. Land lords and feudalists prefer illiterate people in their areas so that no one can get the hold of the area which they rule.

Poverty in Pakistan:
Children living in absolute poverty cannot afford basic education. Students living in poverty are forced to drop out half way into their elementary or middle schooling, inability to pay fees and family responsibilities being two of the reasons. It also works the other way round: lack of education is an important cause of poverty in Pakistan, thus creating a most serious social issue we face today. Urgent steps to remove poverty are called to resolve many other issues automatically.

By: Muhammed Zain Dodhiya (BSCS-2012-Morning)

Page 6

Education Problems in Pakistan

EFFORT DONE BY THE PRESENT GOVERNMNENT:

In the 18th Amendment, constitution of Pakistan 1973, Article 25-A, it is clearly stated that, The State(Provinces) shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years in such manner as may be determined by Law. But, it always remained in documents and unknown fact of the law. It was felt that the Education in Pakistan can be improved by decentralization of powers among the Provinces. For this In 18th Amendment Provinces are given following powers 1. Curriculum 2. Syllabus 3. Standards of Education up to Grade 12 (F.Sc, H.S.C, I.Com, etc). 4. Islamic Education If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people (Chinese Proverb)

By: Muhammed Zain Dodhiya (BSCS-2012-Morning)

Page 7

Education Problems in Pakistan

Now table are turned and every common man and leaders know the importance of Education. In this regard our present government, at the end of its tenure shows some maturity. While addressing in Lahore, P.M Yusuf Raza Gillani announced 2011 as The Year of Education. This is the victory of Pakistan as today our leaders at least understand the Importance of Education. This is not the end but it is the start lets see what is happening. A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education he may steal the whole railroad (Theodore Roosevelt -1858-1919- American president) The present government wants to increase the literacy rate of country. For this reasons many steps are been taken like in accordance of the implementation of 18th amendment, article 25, the re-appointment of Prof Anita Ghulam Ali as managing director of the Sindh Education Foundation (SEF) has provided educational services to more than 200,000 children in far-flung marginalized areas of Sindh but SEF also became one of the most trusted agencies for implementing international donor-funded projects and schemes in Sindh. And similarly in other provinces some major steps have now taken to improve educational structure of the country. Furthermore the government of Punjab has also introduced non-formal education in Punjab which is a good step in the development of education in Pakistan.

STEPS NOT TAKEN YET:

Eradication of feudal system in order to promote education in rural as well as urban areas. Political interference should have to be neglected for improvement of educational system of the country. Admissions to be given on merit which will result in coming forward the real talent of students. Teacher training programs to be organized in order to update and educate the teachers the way to teach. Education to be provided the most budget in next GDP. The coming year should be the fiscal year for education in the history of Pakistan. Infrastructure of government schools should be improved in order to inspire the youth to get education.

By: Muhammed Zain Dodhiya (BSCS-2012-Morning)

Page 8

Education Problems in Pakistan

Further so many steps need to be taken on permanent basis in order to improve the educational structure of our country and to increase the literacy rate.

PRACTICAL SOLUTION :
Every one of us takes things differently, so there is a room for different suggestions. All of us should aim at to abreast and pace ahead to take the task of improving the educational system in a systematic way by implementing different programs commencing from grass root levels. Awareness should be created amongst un-aware fellows, the importance of education must be expounded in real terms but in an easy way, different literacy programs should be commenced throughout the country in order to provide assistance pertaining to the removal of the impediments faced by the uneducated ones. Government should take an active eye and spend much more money for the improvement of primary, secondary and higher education. More schools, colleges and universities, medical and engineering colleges are needed to be opened. Special attention must be paid on the development of scientific and technical education so that the settled trend of people in getting academic education may be diverted to getting technical education. Subject relevancy must be kept in mind while induction of staff for the concerned posts. Politics must be eliminated from education department. Students should pay attention much more on their studies rather than chalking walls in propagation of different political leaders who have been playing filthy games with the poor to obtain their nefarious purposes. By carrying out their orders the poor people are just wasting their time; it is also a fact that nothing can be got by nefarious means. Therefore, honesty of purpose and quality in work should be our motives. Every one of us (parents, students, teachers and the supreme government) should root out the copy culture from top to bottom from educational system that has been eating away the fresh brains of our youth for the times unknown. The education must be got for the purpose of getting education not for getting jobs. Text books must be updated with current topics and rapidly changing of the scenario of the world must be included in the textual books. Estimating the value of education, the Government should take solid steps on this issue. Implementation, instead of projecting policies, should be focused on. Allocation of funds should be made easy from provinces to districts and then to educational institutes. Workshops must be arranged for teachers.
By: Muhammed Zain Dodhiya (BSCS-2012-Morning) Page 9

Education Problems in Pakistan

Foreign states are using LSS system. This should be inducted in Pakistani schools to improve the hidden qualities of children. Technical education must be given to all the classes. The education board of Punjab has projected a plan to give tech- education to the children of industrial workers. Promotion of the primary education is the need of time. Teachers, professors and educationists should be consulted while devising any plan, syllabus or policy. 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 students with so many 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 disability in the state and can bring revolution through evolution, by eradicating the social evils. This is how to remove illiteracy in Pakistan.

As an Individual:
I will try to inspire the new generation to take education as it is necessary for every male and female. I myself will try to help the educational institutions to upgrade themselves will every necessary resources. I will try to collect fund from local peoples for the privileged class to get education and make the future bright. Also I will help financially with the donation I collected from common peoples for the infrastructure of educational institutions. At last I will try to convince the government of their promises regarding the betterment of education.

As a Student:
We should help different organizations by spending time teaching students. We should develop some unique software that will left good impact on the world and they will invest in educational sector in Pakistan. As a student, we should try to inspire the youth to take education as it is important for every male and female. And also we should take active part in arranging teachers training programs and will also organize such programs and seminars to motivate youth and educate teachers with the upcoming challenges.
By: Muhammed Zain Dodhiya (BSCS-2012-Morning) Page 10

Education Problems in Pakistan

We should try to improve the rate of education in both males and females of country. These suggestions are not enough; there is a room for suggestions as already has been mentioned. In the last but not the least, let us work together for bringing revolutionary changes for the effective function of educational system in the country. May Allah Almighty bless us with the will and vision to overcome all the hurdles in our way towards the prosper and peaceful Pakistan.

PAKISTAN ZINDABAD

By: Muhammed Zain Dodhiya (BSCS-2012-Morning)

Page 11