MANCHESTER: This is with reference to Pervez Hoodbhoy’s article of February 8, titled “Education — The PTI’s false promises won’t help”.
I’m a PTI supporter, but I agree with Dr Hoodbhoy. I am sceptical of Imran Khan’s education policy too, as his claims sound naive and we need a more comprehensive plan. Introducing a uniform curriculum would not improve things but actually destroy what little is left of the education system. His plan should be to let the private institutions, which are at least providing some semblance of quality education. As Dr Hoodbhoy pointed out, “we need to stop using wretchedly bad locally-written science and math textbooks; stop rewarding parrot-like memorisation in examinations; and stop tolerating widespread teacher absenteeism”.
His aim should be to raise the standard of government schools so that they become as good as private schools. Once that is done, he can talk about having a uniform curriculum. Or else, it could turn out to be as bad a disaster as Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s nationalisation policy.
Imran Khan’s education policy should focus on improving overall education standards and the existing curriculum. It should not end up nationalising the few good schools which are providing better education. A uniform curriculum is an ideal and should be implemented but now is not the time.
A lot of people have put thier faith in Imran Khan to bring about change, but that doesn’t mean we can’t criticise him and help him in making the right choices.
Syed Ali Raza
Published in The Express Tribune, February 14th, 2012.
