Gough Whitlam is not a household name in Pakistan. I had never heard of Gough until about two years ago. My introduction to his views and his impact came through my interactions with my Australian colleagues who are engaged in global public health. These fine men and women from Down Under are working in far-off lands in Asia, Africa and Latin America with a mission to make life just a bit more equitable for the most vulnerable, to bring quality healthcare to those who are stuck in vicious cycles of global and local poverty. I will also add that among the countries that continue to punch well above their weight in global health and global development, Australia ranks among the very top. The commitment, innovation, engagement and global social consciousness are both, inspiring and contagious.
Good, but so what did Gough have to do with any of this? It turns out that Gough Whitlam, who became prime minister of Australia in 1972, leading the Australian Labour Party to victory for the first time in 23 years, had a role to play in shaping the higher education landscape in the country. Despite the fact that he remained in office for barely three years, he changed the Australian higher education system forever. Soon after coming to office, his government eliminated the university fees altogether, thereby, creating an unprecedented opportunity for the social sectors that previously could not afford to get higher education. The working class Australians, for the first time, could now go to university and be a part of an engaged, learned and innovative society. Coming from poorer parts of the country, many of these young men and women had a passion for development, poverty alleviation and equity. These brilliant minds, through this opportunity, have done incredibly profound work around the world, in creating a more just world. Many of my colleagues engaged in global public health and development, who have been a source of deep inspiration for me, owe their education and training to Whitlam’s government. They would not have had the chance to impact the world, had it not been Whitlam and his government. Whitlam’s model of higher education in Australia has evolved over the years, but the essence remains the same to this date. University, according to him, must be accessible to all who show passion for learning and an aptitude for knowledge.
In many ways, Pakistan is not like the Australia of 1972 — many of our problems are unique. The security situation and the deeply rooted intolerance is, unfortunately, unprecedented. But in many ways, our problems are also similar. Many of the youth are unable to make a mark on society because of limited access to quality higher education. The social and economic barriers are becoming insurmountable for vast sectors of society. Our bright young men and women, in the absence of government support for education and high inflation, are not reaching the heights they are capable of reaching.
Our society does not need a free laptop scheme for a select thousand children in a country of 200 million, for shameless publicity. Our society needs access to quality education, where mentors and teachers engage, motivate and develop students for a challenging world within and outside Pakistan.
Perhaps, the biggest lesson for our politicians lies in taking a long-range view of history, should they bother to study it. It does not matter whether one stays in power for long or not, it is the vision and the deep passion for doing the right thing that bends the arc of history. Whitlam’s government did not stay for long. In an unprecedented constitutional crisis, which continues to be a black mark on Australian politics to this day, he was dismissed in 1975 by the then governor general. Yet, despite the short duration of his rule, the long-term impact of his policies on education, immigration, universal healthcare, human rights and land reforms for the marginalised, made Australia a better place and gave Australians an opportunity to shape the world for the better.
Gough Whitlam died last week. His enduring legacy lives on.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2014.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
COMMENTS (9)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Problems of education in Pakistan are well known like:- (1) lack of educational facilities, (2) poor quality of existing educational facilities, (3) unqualified and non committal teachers, (4) serious financial problems faced by parents to send their wards to educational institutions, (5) ignorance of people to the importance of education as a catalyst to change the quality of their lives, (6) enormous size of the population and its staggering growth pattern and so on. Need is to suggest the mechanism through which all these problems can be tackled. Every one asks the other person to think and solve these problems but does not say how to do that. The article of Mr. Zaman also does that and nothing else. Australia had resources and the fees was removed whereas Pakistan does not have adequate resources to feed its people properly then how it should raise allocation on education?
Wondering why the Whitlam's of the world don't really succeed in politics.
@bahaha: Laptops are hardly the solution. Its a mere photo-op by the Sharif brothers. There is no data, none whatsoever, that free computers and laptops make an impact. What makes an impact is interactions with teachers, steady and safe schools and the ability to engage students. One-laptop-per child has been a colossal failure in number of countries and so is $100 laptop scheme.
Your point about years is very well taken though - right on the money there.
Well, I wonder if the Ozzy government gave out macs and apples in Pakistan in aus-aid, would that be good for education. ? In your desire to eulogize Whitlam you had to creamed someone who finally did good in this country. You forget that most kids don't even get a desk and teachers use molded clay as chalk for their pitted blackboards. Its a quantum jump from the crowded "taat" under lone shade tree in the school courtyard. In case you are interested in knowing what is missing our education its " failure to retain the students longer in school" - and its not hours its years.
Muhammad Zaman is partially correct in that Mr.Whitlam introduced some great changes. However, most have disappeared from the domestic scene. If you go to an Australian university full fees have to be paid, and they are expensive. I will not go into all the expenses of hospital and dental care. However, an Echo heart scan at a no fee public hospital can entail three months waiting time. For some services the waiting time can be in excess of 3 years. I think the moral of the story is that Australia is something like America. You get excellent service if you can afford it. To conclude, Mr Whitlam burst on the scene over 40 years ago and made some great changes, but succeeding governments have eroded them over the years due to different priorities, not least of which has been continuing, expensive warfare, and subsidies for expensive private schools, which the children of the elite use.
@Kalimullah: hope you are being sarcastic
As someone who has lived in Australia and has friends from the 70s - I agree with the author. Whitlam changed the country for the better. I am glad someone in Pakistan knows about him!
Islamic Studies is the only education you need.
Nice analysis. Love the comment "should they care to study" - sums it up.