A mentorship programme should be introduced where students from their senior year guide freshman students
LAHORE: I have received education for almost 15 years, from Pakistan. Despite being a witness to the evident system among both the systems, I will not go into the Cambridge Examination versus the local Board of Education. Considering that I’ve done Matric and then FSC, these are just a few little observations about changes that I believe should be introduced to the system.
It is high time we started enrolling students into our universities based on applications followed by an interview that provides an insight into the whole personality of individual and not just his academic records. There is a reason that such pattern is followed across the world. Further, certain credit hours of volunteering work must be made mandatory. This is the age when the spirits and the energies are a plenty. Why not utilise them to contribute to society? While on one hand, volunteering and community service will benefit society, it will make the youth more responsible and appreciative of whatever they have and whatever they achieve in the future. Unpaid jobs at a young age will inculcate work ethics which is a prime requirement and will also pave one’s way to decide their field.
Secondly, we need to start improving the practical aspect of our curriculum. And by that I do not mean to refer to rote learning salt analysis, I mean introducing presentations, vivas and projects that develop students’ thinking and analytical skills. Our average student finds it really hard to catch up on these aspects once they enter their work lives.
Third, career counselling in college and universities. The people in their 20s are more lost and confused than other age cohorts. They are basically in a crisis questioning everything. A mentorship programme should be introduced where students from their senior year guide freshman students. This will provide them with an insight into the availability of options they have at school.
Finally I believe, one sport should be made compulsory. Where are we leading ourselves, with all this technology and no physical activity? Planting trees can be made a mandatory part of our curriculum, maybe at school level. This is our obligation but because we don’t pay heed otherwise, this can be one way.
Rida Fatima Sajid
Published in The Express Tribune, August 6th, 2018.
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