Education in Pakistan

Looking back on what I’ve been writing, I have come to realize that my analogies and references must have little meaning to you. Without any intention on my part, I have been creating the impression that I am one of a privileged group and must have received some of my education abroad. That is not the case, however.
I came to Pakistan as a child of 10, in 1950. Since then, I have never left this country nor have I applied for a passport. Everything I am today, every inkling and iota of knowledge I possess, was given to me in schools and a college here in Pakistan. That blessing was received not only by me but by all the people of my generation. Sadly, this cannot be said of the generations that have followed since then.
In my time, the standard of education in Government schools was just as good as in private schools. A passion for knowledge and creativity was instilled in the student. By the time one graduated, one was fit to enter the arena of life as an adult. Education was so good that to apply for a BPS-17 post only required a matric certificate. Since then, the bar has been raised to a Master’s for induction into BPS-17.
In today’s world, I know that teachers are really underpaid, especially in the government sector. So why do teachers with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in education apply for these jobs? The answer is simple. Job security. It is difficult to be fired from this kind of job. To retain it is simple. Just make sure that the children, regardless of their abilities, are promoted to the next class.
The results of this only become apparent during the primary, middle and secondary board examinations, when certificates become necessary to be promoted to the next level. There again, things are only shaken up when failures reach scandalous proportions and the parents and even the general public protest.
The results of this are creating a lot of private educational institutions but also private tuition centres. These tuition centres are run by teachers, or their relatives. Instead of teaching children in the school itself, they insist that the child is nor learning and requires tuition.
As far as private educational institutions are concerned, I would be very careful as to which one I would recommend to my friends to send their children to.My advice to those who do so is not only to check whether the school is accredited by the Ministry of Education but also to check on other things, such as annual results and the security for children within the school.
There was a time in this country when a parent’s only decision regarding his child’s education was how convenient it would be for the child come and go to school. A parent did not have to worry about the quality of the education the child would receive. It was a given that the education would be first class. How have we arrived at this pass? It is sad, isn’t it?

—The Commoner