Do you think Pakistan has an effective education system?
How do you see the education system of Pakistan? Do you prefer public or private schools? Do you think Islamiat is taught as a core subject till the secondary level? Do you think TVET is being delivered in different formats? And do you think political pressure has a negative impact on the education system? Let’s discuss these questions in this article. I hope you will agree with me that Pakistan’s education system needs improvement.
Private schools are better than government schools.
With the government failing to fulfill its educational promises, many parents are turning to private schools to educate their children. According to an Alf Allen survey, 69 percent of parents said they would prefer to send their children to a private school rather than a public school. This is because private schools offer better facilities, better learning outcomes, and better teachers. As a result, the number of private schools has increased by four percent since 2003 and is expected to reach 42 percent by 2019.
The primary focus of the study was academic performance and the overall level of achievement for students. In addition, they looked at student attitudes, motivation, social adjustment, and risky behavior associated with private schooling. However, despite these differences, studies have not shown conclusive evidence that private schools are better than public schools. So parents should consider various factors before making a decision. Let’s take a closer look at what makes private schools better than public schools.
Public and private schools in Pakistan provide different levels of education and facilities. Although public schools are cheaper, private institutions are generally better at improving infrastructure. They also have a better teacher-student ratio, cleaner facilities, and a more positive environment. Moreover, private institutions provide better educational opportunities like extracurricular activities and personality development. These benefits may not be offered in public schools, but they are still better than none.
While public schools have many advantages, private schools have more autonomy. Private schools have less government regulation and less sense of community. Therefore, private schools have more freedom when it comes to teaching methods and curriculum. Their teachers may specialize in specific niches and have more creative teaching methods. They may also be more involved in student life. They may also offer more extracurricular activities. The best way to choose between the two options is to choose the one that best suits your child.
How Can a Country Promote Education?
Islamiat is a core subject through lower secondary school.
Islamiat is compulsory for all Muslim students in Pakistan till class 10th. The syllabus has also changed since the previous policy. Now the Ministry of Education has made it mandatory that Islamiat be taught as a separate subject from General Knowledge. It also includes religious education for non-Muslim students. Under this new policy, teachers must also be qualified in the Islamic field.
The new policy aims to promote religious tolerance, communal harmony, and respect for minorities. Discrimination against minorities is not permissible and Islamic teachings say that every human being should have equal rights. However, it is important to note that the new curriculum will not exclude Islamiat, and will try to harmonize it with the entire educational structure.
Nevertheless, the country’s education policy for Islam is based on the goal of helping students understand and learn about their faith. Islamic subjects are compulsory in primary and lower secondary schools. According to the 1973 constitution, education should be designed to equip Muslims with the knowledge and values they need to live as Muslims. The government has made it a priority, as it promotes a culture of tolerance.
The syllabus also includes several compulsory subjects and streams. These include English, Mathematics, and Humanities. The curriculum also includes Islamiat, which is considered ethics for non-Muslim students. The curriculum usually consists of a mix of core subjects, including Urdu, English, and Pakistan Studies. There are also compulsory and optional courses.
Political pressure
Discriminatory rules and regulations have long characterized Pakistan’s governance, and these restrictions are often justified by law. However, the plight of Pakistan’s religious minorities is a major concern. The government is pushing minority religious groups out of the upper echelons of the economy and government, and they face routine persecution. In addition, Pakistan is deeply divided along ethnic lines, and many of these communities face extreme economic disadvantages.
The PTI government has tried to harness the expertise of experts and academics but has also faced several setbacks. The military largely controls the country’s education system, and the majority of elected officials come from business or landowning backgrounds. The military-controlled government has also allegedly interfered in the development of political parties and electoral competition. These pressures have made it difficult to proceed with reform measures.
While many conference participants agreed that political pressure is a large part of the problem, the Musharraf government must have a vision for reform and the political will to implement those changes. While reforms are necessary, to truly improve the quality of education in Pakistan, political will and commitment to real reforms are essential. The Pakistani education system needs continuous pressure from its people.
Although the ECC has broad powers to make decisions and oversee economic policy in Pakistan, it has little parliamentary oversight. In addition, the country’s government increasingly relies on Islam as its only legitimate ideology. Consequently, any social movement that expresses dissent and opposition usually faces repression. The state uses digital tools to suppress any opposition as well as monitor opponents. These efforts have also contributed to the deterioration of Pakistan’s education system.
Lack of technical and vocational education
The country’s TVET system faces multiple challenges and can accommodate only five million trainees annually. It is outdated and inadequate, negatively impacting the lives of young people seeking meaningful employment and employers seeking qualified employees. It is high time that the government prioritizes the TVET system and increases its funding. Investment in TVET will create more employment opportunities and elevate Pakistan’s position in the world. But how can the government do this?
The PTI government had promised to create one crore jobs in its election manifesto. In implementing this promise, Pakistan should learn from other developed countries. For example, Japan and Germany transformed their economies after World War II. As a result, they grew into world-class economies and became giants in the field of technology. But during this time no concerted action was taken to meet the needs of the industry. This lack of technical and vocational education in Pakistan is a serious problem, which should be tackled soon.
Although Pakistan has a large human and natural resource base, it has a major shortage of skilled workers. The country’s labor force is 60 percent young and unskilled, and the demand for skilled workers is high. Additionally, many employers are unwilling to hire people with less education or skills due to a shortage of skilled workers. Additionally, TVET programs can help train the workforce for a new occupation.
To address the shortage of skilled workers, the government should implement a national “Skills for All” strategy, which would ensure equal access to education for all citizens. The curriculum should be updated to reflect labor market demands and rapidly evolving technologies. Additionally, Pakistan should create a new school vocational training program to provide practical skills at the high school level. These measures will help to improve the entire vocational training system as well as combat poverty and unemployment.
TVET is delivered in various formats.
Despite its natural resources and geographical location, Pakistan is not known for its vocational education. However, there are many reasons for the increasing importance of TVET in Pakistan. The country’s youth constitute a large part of its workforce. This shortage of skilled workers has affected the country’s ability to exploit its natural resources. Keeping this in mind, the government has adopted a National Skill Development Strategy called NSS. The objective of the scheme is to improve the quality of TVET programs and align them with the needs of the labor market.
As part of the program, the German government has also committed to improving the TVET system in Pakistan. It has surpassed the joint contribution of the World Bank and the European Union. Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has supported TVET systems in more than 70 countries. In addition, five regional cooperation projects with ASEAN and the Organization of Southeast Asian Ministers of Education have been implemented as part of the program.
Last Word
I hope this article is very knowledgeable for you. If you have any suggestion about our eduction system please leave the comments in the comment section.
