Whither higher education?

Concerned citizens have long been worried about the state of education, particularly in the sphere of higher education, in the country. A miasma of despair surrounds higher education. Optimists are, however, hopeful. Among the small tribe of crusaders struggling to reform higher education in Pakistan is Dr Tariq Banuri. A PhD in economics from Harvard, with experience in teaching in Western universities of repute, Banuri has been attempting to reform the higher education sector in the country. He has been pointing out how our universities have become factories for producing paper degrees even at the doctorate level. Degrees are worthless paper unless those who earn them possess the knowledge, and have proper grasp, of their subjects.

Our universities appoint teachers by simply conducting short interviews of candidates. This is in sharp contrast to the teacher-induction process applied in countries whose degrees are valued. There prospective educators are taken around all departments of the university, they interact with students, and deliver lectures in their subject/s of specialisation. The results are obvious. Another drawback to teacher appointment in Pakistan is that prospective candidates have to produce their research papers in world-renowned journals. This, however, does not give a proper idea of competence and ability of teachers. What makes matters worse is that teachers are not evaluated for their performance. There are continuous developments in all disciplines of knowledge, but most Pakistani university lecturers continue to impart outdated knowledge as they do not keep themselves abreast of latest developments.

Research departments in our universities are directionless. Research is done to benefit humanity. Coming generations build further on research carried out by their predecessors. Unfortunately, this is not happening here. Like other spheres of society, the bane of favouritism is affecting our institutions of higher learning too. One-third of public universities are reportedly getting more funding than the rest. All in all, universities allegedly ignore merit. Knowledge is power, though some people may go on insisting that power is power.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2022.

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