I urge the government to devise a comprehensive and constructive education policy as soon as possible
FAISALABAD: The Pakistan Education Statistics Report 2015-16 indicated advances in the net enrollment rate in primary education, availability of physical facilities in government schools and reduction in number of out-of-school children. This might be correct up in reality, there has been no serious work done by the government to improve the standard of education in the country. Education and health are the most neglected sectors under the present regime of the PML-N. Despite these statistics, Pakistan still has one of the highest illiteracy rates in the world and the second-largest out-of-school population (5.1 million children) after Nigeria. Education is the basic foundation and requirement for the progress of any society. An American writer, historian, and philosopher, Will Durant, once said, “Education is the transmission of civilisation”. Unfortunately, in Pakistan, the quality of education has a declining trend. Shortage of teachers and poorly equipped laboratories has resulted in an education that has little relevance to present-day needs.
Education in Pakistan is overseen by the Federal Ministry of Education and the provincial governments, whereas the federal government mostly assists in curriculum development, accreditation and in the financing of research and development. The Constitution of Pakistan obligates the state to provide free and compulsory quality education to children of the age group three to 16 years. The feudal mindset and tribal culture are other hindrances to the development of education. The education system of Pakistan has been heavily influenced by religion. The education sector should be treated as a special sector by immunising budgetary allocations for it from fiscal stresses and political and economic instabilities. Allocations for education should not be affected by squeezed fiscal space or surge in military expenditure or debts. I urge the government to devise a comprehensive and constructive education policy as soon as possible.
Engr Mansoor Ahmed
Published in The Express Tribune, March 11th, 2017.
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