State of education: 90% of our science teachers don’t have a science degree

Plagiarism, the Model University Ordinance and campus violence all signs of destruction.

KARACHI:

Any country, where 90 per cent of its science teachers don’t have a science degree, should worry about its future.

This dismal statistic came from political analyst Muqtada Mansoor who was speaking on the ‘Commercialisation of Education’ at a seminar on the ‘Dismal State of Education in Pakistan’ organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Friday.

“We have yet to produce any renowned researchers, intellectuals or poets,” Mansoor said, adding that most private institutes have turned education into a business. School and university owners are getting richer, while the teachers are paid very low salaries in most private schools.

Dr Muhammad Ali Siddiqui, the rector of Institute of Business and Technology (BIZTEK), spoke about the Model University Ordinance, 2002, which he said was a conspiracy to ruin our education system. “We can save the sick but we cannot revive the dead,” he commented. “It seems as if those in authority want us to stay illiterate.”

Prof. Tauseef Ahmed Khan of the Federal Urdu University also discussed the Model University Ordinance, saying that it has no links to Pakistan’s culture. “According to the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the ordinance was passed to curb ‘teacher’ politics’. But I think it has increased after the ordinance.” Khan said that no university can function properly as long as the ordinance exists, as it allows people who have little or no knowledge of university management to be nominated as teachers and members of the Senate.

Former controller of examinations for the Karachi board, Javed Iftikhar, said that educationists and policy makers have avoided confronting or even acknowledging corruption in education for the last 25 years. “Now it has spread like a cancer.” It is not limited to institutions, as the mafia and influential people are also involved. “Extortion is a common practice at most examination centres,” he added, suggesting that political parties can eliminate this problem if they worked together.

Dr Mutahir Ahmad, from the International Relations department of the University of Karachi, spoke on ‘Violence in Educational Institutions’. He gave an overview of the history of violence in educational institutes, starting from independence. “Students in Balochistan have been repressed since 1948. The Kalashnikov culture entered campuses during the Zia era,” he said. Banning student politics exacerbated off and on campus violence.  “It divided students on linguistic, ethnic and religious lines.” Dr Ahmad said Pakistani institutions are responsible for the prevalence of violence amongst students. “I don’t have any hope that this situation would improve in the foreseeable future.”

Journalist Zubeida Mustafa spoke on ‘The language barrier in education’. Education should be in the mother tongue, she said. “If educated otherwise, a child is unable to use his natural abilities. Urdu should be the second language as it’s the unifying factor across Pakistan.” Our education policies lack coherence, and they aren’t implemented.

Co-director general of the Dr AQ Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Dr Abid Azhar spoke on ‘plagiarism’ in academic circles. He defined plagiarism and pointed out the reasons that compel individuals to resort to this unethical and criminal method. He bemoaned its prevalence not only amongst students, but also teachers as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2011.