Higher Education in peril

Before the Britishers arrived, the sub-continent was a thriving intellectual region. Even though education was perpetuated through religious institutions — the ‘Madrassa’ for the Muslims and the ‘Pathshala’ for the Hindus — contemporary sciences, multilingual manners and spirituality were also a part of their teachings. The morals of the people were exceptionally high. This, according to Lord Macaulay, a British secretary who was sent by the Raj on a special task to study the educational system of this continent, was “their spiritual and social infrastructure, taught and strengthened by their system of education”. In order to break India’s backbone and destroy the self-esteem of the people, the Britishers decided to introduce a new English medium system by establishing missionary schools to enforce Western ideals and induce a sense of inferiority among the people. This is where the fracture started, and it has all been downhill still then.

Even throughout Pakistan’s own history, higher education, freedom of expression and intellectual pursuits have long been repressed by political leaders and military dictators who have time and again put curbs on academic freedom and imposed strict regimentation on universities and student unions. The remnants of the past have been lingering on and even today the Higher Education system across Pakistan continues to be strangulated due to external interference, corruption and intolerance. There is no space for innovation, critical thinking and inventiveness as students as well as teachers are forced to work in a highly suffocating environment – that is if they have the privilege to study or teach in the first place. To make matters worse, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has failed to introduce and implement new policies, due to negligence and financial constraints. Marred by corruption and nepotism, the HEC has also not been able to formulate a proper curriculum and set up an efficient recruitment system.

As a result, Pakistan faces a serious issue of brain drain since academic jobs have become extremely unreliable. In order to retain intellectual capacity, officials must focus on creating a safe environment conducive to learning. A middle ground between the modern and traditional education system of education needs to be sought out.