CAMBRIDGE, UK: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has recently unveiled its education policy. Those curious enough to go through the detailed document would perhaps, agree that the PTI education team has done its homework. Overall, the policy is quite comprehensive and covers most of the critical issues in the education domain. However, one feels that the party needs to revisit some important aspects of this policy.
For the PTI, a uniform education system in Pakistan appears to be a panacea for all our educational problems. While this is a popular slogan, it is unlikely to bring any improvement. In fact, it may make things worse. Implementing a single system will likely require tinkering with our prolific private education system — the same private system that has produced students who have consistently created new world records in O/A level examinations. Our private education system is performing well, so please don’t mess with it. The problems lie elsewhere.
Instead of forcing a uniform system in the country, the PTI should strive to revamp the public sector education system, in line with the needs of the people. The success of the O/A levels system is proof that quality is important; the proliferation of madrassas indicates that many people want religious education for their children. Thus, our public education system must offer both modern and religious education. It should also be of high quality, comparable with any private or international education institution. Finally, it should be affordable for the masses, preferably free for those who cannot afford to pay. Any public education system that has the above ingredients will be a success even if there are other alternative options. For example, India has a high quality public education system. As a result, only a small minority of students opt for private O/A levels education.
Improving the teaching standards is another aspect that needs more attention. The PTI’s plan in this regard is trite and not substantively different from the tested (and failed) initiatives of the Punjab government. For example, producing more teachers and improving their training are two primary ways through which the PTI hopes to improve teaching standards. These proposals miss the crux of the problem. Training only helps if the current crop of teachers is bright and motivated. Unfortunately, most of our teachers today lack these qualities. They are in this profession because they cannot become doctors, engineers or financial wizards. They are in this profession because of their misfortune rather than their passion. Not surprisingly, such teachers lack the necessary skills and motivation to educate and inspire our new generation. We must ensure that the brightest minds of our society are encouraged to become teachers. A prerequisite to this is that we revamp the financial incentives given to teachers.
Even more important is the respect and status given to teachers in our society. We must accord the highest level of respect and dignity to teachers, for they make a huge contribution to society. Of course, this requires a change of thinking at the national level, with the government and the media promoting the key role that teachers play in a society’s uplift.
Despite all the above shortcomings, PTI’s education plan is a step in the right direction. One hopes that it will continue to brainstorm on how to further improve its plan. As proponents of change, the party should know that “chance favours the prepared mind”.
Dr Fahad Rafique Dogar
Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2013.
