By Eman Iftikhar Turk
Education plays an important role in the progress and development of a state. Progress of any country depends upon its literacy rate and quality of education in that country. Therefore, it is the key priorities of nations. In Pakistan, a country with rich cultural heritage and a population exceeding 220 million, the education system has long been recognized as an area in need of significant improvement. The Pakistani education system is one of the oldest in the world. They boast of having one of the most extensive and effective curricula in all of Asia.
Unfortunately, our country Pakistan is a backward one regarding its literacy rate. Even many poor countries have higher literacy rate as compare to Pakistan. And our education system is responsible for all this. Pakistan has one of the world’s lowest literacy rates, with an estimated 22.6 million children not attending school and a literacy rate of only 58 percent. The situation is significantly worse for disadvantaged youngsters, who faceconsiderable difficulties in getting school.
Furthermore, due to poverty, a lack of facilities, and social concerns, many children, particularly those from low-income households, are unable to attend school.
In recent years, the education system in Pakistan has faced numerous challenges, hindering the nation’s progress and jeopardizing the future of its youth. Despite government efforts and initiatives, the problems persist, demanding urgent attention and comprehensive reforms to ensure a brighter future for the country.
Education policies are good but, unfortunately, there are many problems in this system and its implementations. In current situation more attention is being paid to the higher education instead of primary education. In small villages primary schools are not progressing. These are small buildings schools having little facilities. All of us know that primary education is the main pillar of higher education. In every field of life primary education plays the foundation and supporting role.
If we look towards higher education system, there are hundreds of private and government colleges and universities. These are of different categories, for example universities of engineering and technology, medical science, business, information technology, agriculture, survey and micro technology and other fields of life.
Private colleges and universities are very expensive. Even middle class people cannot afford it. Their fee structure usually starts from 50000 rupee per semester. In government universities there are thousands of applicants every year but few hundred seats are available. Their merit touches the sky every year.
One of the fundamental challenges is the significant disparity in access to quality education across different regions of Pakistan. Remote and underprivileged areas often lack adequate educational facilities, resulting in limited opportunities for children to receive a proper education. Insufficient infrastructure, including a lack of schools, classrooms, libraries, and basic amenities, further exacerbates the problem, leaving millions of children without access to even the most basic education.
While access to education is crucial, the quality of education provided in many schools is a matter of concern. Outdated teaching methods, inadequate curriculum, and a shortage of qualified and trained teachers contribute to an ineffective learning environment. They focus on rote memorization rather than critical thinking and problem-solving skills hampers the holistic development of students, making them ill-prepared for the challenges of the modern world.
Apart from all of this, Gender disparity remains a persistent issue in Pakistan’s education system. Although efforts have been made to promote girls’ education, cultural and societal barriers continue to hinder progress. Discriminatory attitudes, early marriages, and limited opportunities for girls in many parts of the country deny them their basic right to education. This gender gap not only perpetuates inequality but also undermines the country’s socio-economic development.
Government and NGOs are working upon different policies to get rid of educational problems. Government is trying to provide education free for all. Free books, uniform and transport are being provided to the students free of cost. While addressing a launching ceremony of ‘Teleschool Pakistan App’ Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that: “ All resources and efforts should be utilised to introduce the modern modes of education including the digitisation initiatives, besides imparting of the latest training to teachers.”
Addressing the challenges in Pakistan’s education system requires a multi-faceted approach and collaborative efforts from the government, civil society, and the international community. We need to recognize the importance of literacy and encourage people to read. The younger generation can learn from books with the example of citizenship, honesty, work ethic, and kindness. There are some important points which should be followed by government and responsible leaders to get rid of hurdles:
• There should be same syllabus for all Pakistanis.
• Increase investment in education, allocating a significant portion of the national budget to ensure adequate funding for infrastructure development, teacher training, and curriculum improvement.
• Bridge the gender gap by implementing policies that promote and ensure equal access to education for girls and empower women in the education sector.
• Government should appoint highly expert and experienced people in education staff as teachers.
• More attention must be paid to the under developing areas of Pakistan.
• There must be strong rules to avoid corruption in education.
Without urgent action and substantial reforms, the education system in Pakistan will continue to lag behind, impeding the country’s progress and leaving millions of children without the opportunity to reach their full potential.
It is imperative for the government and stakeholders to prioritize education and invest in its transformation, as a strong education system is the cornerstone of a prosperous and developed nation.
In education system we need strong determination, love and sincerity with our new generation. We should make our grass root level strong. It is government responsibility to solve administrative and management problems of Pakistan education system.
