K-P’s education crisis

The damning report released by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission has unveiled a disconcerting reality: the state of education in the province is in dire straits. The majority of candidates with postgraduate degrees have been unable to answer basic questions during job screening tests, highlighting a deep-rooted flaw in the outdated education system.

The report paints a grim picture of the quality and standard of postgraduates produced. The candidates’ “weak comprehension base” and “lack of domain knowledge” reflect a troubling trend of “superficial understanding” of their respective subjects. As a consequence, they struggle to provide analytical answers, hindering their ability to tackle real-world challenges once employed. The report underscores the alarming deficiency of candidates’ skills in critical subjects such as mathematics, statistics and languages. In an era where these skills are essential for societal progress, the region faces the risk of lagging behind in various sectors. Moreover, the report sheds light on the knowledge gap among government servants, raising questions about the efficacy of existing training programmes and continuous learning opportunities in government departments. This incompetence can lead to administrative inefficiencies and impede the region’s progress. The consequences of a poor education system are not confined to academic institutions; they have a ripple effect on society as a whole. A poorly educated populace may struggle to make informed decisions and actively participate in civic life.

Addressing this crisis necessitates immediate and comprehensive educational reforms. The curriculum must be overhauled to prioritise practical skills, personality development and leadership qualities. Establishing teacher evaluation mechanisms is crucial to ensuring the competence of educators, and close collaboration between the HEC and institutions is essential to set internationally recognised teaching standards. The region’s future depends on promptly addressing the deficiencies in the education system.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2023.

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