Sad reality: Enrolling 4m children by 2017, seems ‘impossible’

Academics at a discussion not too optimistic about the current state of education.

RAWALPINDI:

If the literacy rate is to rise in the country, education has to be treated as a public service for the greater good.

This was the crux of a seminar that was held to discuss the situation of education in the country on Tuesday. Organised by Rotrary Club, Rawalpindi, the discussion involving academics focused on how to increase school enrolments.

While brainstorming how at least four million children can be enrolled in schools in the next five years, many participants were not that optimistic.

Chairperson International Relations department at International Islamic University, Noor Fatima said, “It is important to de-politicise our institutions so the focus is solely on the benefits to students and not some politician’s agenda.”

She also stressed on the impossibility of enrolling millions of children in school when only 2% of the budget is allocated for education.

“With such meagre funds it is not possible to enrol such a vast majority of children in school by 2017,” she added.

“If individuals are sensitised against child labour and they stop employing children, child labour will decrease and school will be the next option. Parents need to realise that investing in education pays in the long run and society benefits,” Fatima said.

The government should also focus on job creation and motivation for skilled labour to make education an attractive alternative, she added.

Speaking with The Express Tribune, Nausherwan Khan, president Rotary Club, Rawalpindi, stated that it was important to clarify that literacy doesn’t mean the ability to write one’s name, which is the prevalent definition in Pakistan. The definition of literacy should include education which sharpens the ability to analyse one’s society and draw critical conclusions from it, he said.

Attash Durrani, an academic and writer, suggested that teaching methods should be revamped in schools to mentally stimulate students rather than subjecting them to obsolete pedagogy.

The event was organised by Rotary Club, Rawalpindi

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2012.