We are increasingly isolating ourselves. More so, in 2014 than in 2013. I do not mean international isolation or a geopolitical one, but isolation that comes from the loss of trust in people and institutions. In official meetings and one-on-one exchanges, evening gupshups and on talk shows, we are wary of everyone and everything. The distrust in individuals is at an all-time high, and continues to grow with every new dharna. Driven in part by poor judgment by politicians and lack of any moral compass by those in power, many of us are ready to give up on the future, than to pick up the pieces for the future. While there may be arguments for distrust in politicians, we cannot deny that this goes beyond the political debate. We are sceptical of good ideas coming from anyone who does not adhere to our customs, of language, culture, religion or politics.
The loss of trust has now gone from individuals to institutions. We are suspicious of the military and we are unhappy with the civilian administration. We do not think much of the judiciary, the police is corrupt we say, the media has sold its soul to the enemy, the parliament to us is full of incompetent characters. The most alarming part of this trend is that this growing distrust now extends to the most fundamental pillars of society — the educational institutions.
There is little support for higher education, among the public or in the government. No one believes in research anymore, not even those who are paid to promote it. It is hard to use ‘HEC’ and ‘relevant’ in the same sentence. Nearly all of my academic colleagues, in the public and private universities, who I met in the last week or two, have pretty much given up on the HEC. Many have given up on innovation and research altogether. The general public, while demanding higher education, has also given up on universities as the place of inquiry and creativity. University education is now a platform to get a job, not a place to think or unlock grand mysteries. The same goes for lower levels of education. You send your child to public schools only if you absolutely cannot afford the private ones. Even successful alums of the public schools, will not even consider for a second, sending their child to the public school they attended.
The increasing level of distrust in educational institutions has, on one hand, given rise to the booming business of private schools, that are more interested in franchising than educating. On the other hand, this not only puts a tremendous financial burden on parents, it also strengthens the separation of socioeconomic classes and takes us farther from social integration.
There can be many arguments in support of our current distrust of educational institutions. I am sure many have merit and real data to support. But there is no argument in maintaining the corrosive status quo. My point is not to start trusting our educational institutions today, but to start building and strengthening institutions that we can trust tomorrow. The task is too great to be left to individuals we do not trust. The reduction in our trust deficit will require efforts at every possible level. It will require an increase in our financial support for public sector education, it will mean stronger parent-teacher associations (which in most schools simply do not exist), it will require a curriculum reform for a more tolerant society and a curriculum reform that focuses on creativity. If a mobilised civil society can rein in instigators of instability in the heart of the capital, why can’t we generate enough pressure for reforming the curriculum that creates such instigators? It will require an effort larger than we have seen, but the cost of inaction is simply unacceptable.
If we want to believe in our future, a future that is better than 2014, we need to build trust in the institution that enables the future. The belief that education can usher in a better tomorrow is the first step.
The conversation in 2015 needs to turn from what is, to what if?
Published in The Express Tribune, December 30th, 2014.
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@ Muhammad Hamid. Sorry Sir.. Please excuse me. What are you talking? Is it that we have baselessly lost all trust? Is it like all the cows have delivered their milk still we are slaughtering them? No way! Some experience of 64 years, yes 64 years has led to this very conclusion that here most of the times you will get disappointment for all good you are expecting. We were never skeptical in the first place rather we have developed skeptical on account of bitter experience of past.
Hold on! I am still very positive. Do you know why? because worst has already happened, what else sever could you expect? So for all those optimism lovers, I say, I am positive. Don't worry!
My university was overrun with Jamaat e ISLAMI supporters. They interfered with and policed every aspect of the university, leading it towards stagnation. Most students and teachers were too scared to speak up or do something about this since any small opposition led to riots and the university shutting down for months on end. I believe in banning such outfits first of all. Political associations have no place in universities if they take over the whole damned thing. I also believe that along with changing curriculums, the subject of Islamiyat should be changed to religious studies. where students are taught about most major religions of the world. Its absolutely abysmal that kids form an opinion about other religions through the completely biased lens of Islmiyat books.
@Ali - some schools do have PTAs - at least the ones my kids go to, but they are not effective. Teachers only give info to parents, they are not ready to collaborate. That needs to change.
I really like the simple things proposed by the author - I am not an activist but I had never thought of having a real group that engages with parents - my cousins in the US talk about Parent-Teacher-Association - but I never really thought much of it. If anything, its worth a try - but my worry is that parents might start to dictate too much in our schools. How do you control that?
This is VERY good - finally someone talking about something that is both important and urgent and something that is not just the responsibility of "others". Great job Dr. Zaman! Love your piece, as usual.
Very good arguments as usual. Muhammad Hamid Zaman, you are one of the few sane voices on ET and i look forward to your columns every week!!!!!