KARACHI: Perhaps the most flawed element of our education system is the horrible scheduling of the university entrance process. I do not understand why Pakistan’s universities cannot learn from universities abroad and offer admission during students’ final year at school.

In countries like America and the UK, students apply to colleges during their senior year at high school. Yes, this may be stressful while the pressure of doing well in final year mounts, however, the primary advantage is that by the time summer rolls around, children are relaxed and carefree with college acceptances in mind. They can then spend the summer gearing up for college life, rather than being bogged down by the application process.

In stark contrast, in Pakistan when high school ends the real struggle begins. Students have to start filling out forms and studying for entrance exams. While this should be a time of their life when they can divert time and energy towards non-academic pursuits such as voluntary work or even travelling, Pakistani students are buried under tremendous workload and pressure upon completion of school.

I really do feel like the scheduling of the university entrance process should be changed and made earlier so that children may utilise the summer after graduation for other purposes. It would be more practical, convenient and less stressful for students who leave school with feelings of aimlessness and fear.

Urooj Waqar

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2017.

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