Widespread reforms: Chief minister vows to revamp ‘useless’ education system

Announces to introduce English as medium of instruction from next year.

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Monday termed the “uselessness” of education provided at public sector schools the main reason behind increasing dropout rates.

Addressing a Department for International Development (DFID)-sponsored donors’ meeting in Islamabad, Khattak urged international donors to help bring about a change in the current education system as the sector needed improvement.

He blamed the divided systems of education in the country – public, private and madrassah – for reinforcing the problems plaguing the society. Khattak also maintained frequent postings and transfers of teachers led to the abysmal state of the system as teachers do not perform their duties seriously due to such conditions.

Moreover, the CM announced the government would introduce an English medium system in the province from next year along with school-specific appointments in all public education institutes.

“Under the programme, English will be introduced as a medium of learning from Grade 1 as it is done in private schools,” said Khattak, adding any teacher requesting a transfer from the school they were initially recruited for would have to resign and apply for fresh recruitment to the school they intend to join. “Teachers would be promoted on the basis of the results they produce in the schools.”

Khattak requested donors to assist in making the government’s plan a success by training teachers so they would be enabled to face the challenges of teaching in English. “There are sufficient schools in K-P. However, they usually consist of two rooms which cater to four to five classes. Therefore, they will fall short in accommodating the enrolment of nearly 1.5 million out-of-school children,” said Khattak.

In response to a question, Education Secretary Judat Ayaz shared the provincial government was spending Rs85 billion on elementary education. He added this figure translates to about Rs1,816 per student, which is more than the monthly fee of any private school student. However, he admitted there was still no improvement in the performance of public schools.

“Proper management and monitoring is required,” Ayaz added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2013.