Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”, said an eminent figure Nelson Mandela. Indeed, education has directly linkage with mind; it alters thinking and steers towards glory. Unfortunately, the first-rate education has not found toe-hold in Pakistan so far. It is hearting to note that this system is rotten to core in this country. In fact, it has always remained at the lowest-rung of government’s priority ladder. Neither, previous governments promoted it vigorously nor mainstream regime seems interested to ameliorate it.
According to UNESCO, Pakistan’s literacy rate is 58% which is doubtlessly, lamentable and regrettable. Needless to say, if this issue is resolved on emergency basis, prosperity will return to this land of pure. Otherwise, its consequences will be drastic. Pakistan will keep on starring into the abyss of ignominy, extremism and terrorism.
The recent reports paint education system dismally. Alif Ailan’s report, Pakistan district education ranking,reveals that there is overall decrease inquality education in 2016. Moreover, institute of social and policy sciences states that Pakistan’s education spreading is the worst in Asia. Unfortunately, there is not a single Pakistan’s university among top 500 universities in the world. These reports are tantamount to the fact that education system is badly managed and inadequately handled. Thus, it is altogether ruined.
Besides this,quality education is widely missing in the system. Recently, the news went viral about a book written by vice chancellor of Karachi University. He was accused of plagiarism. Despite, plenty of proofs about is fraud; university did not dismiss him from his post. This tarnished image of Pakistan globally. Additionally, global competitiveness index 2016 has ranked Pakistan on 112th among 140 countries in quality of education. Hence, the quality of education is alien to Pakistan’s education system.
Moreover, the ‘out of schools dilemma’ is still unresolved. According to recent reports, 24 million children are out of school in Pakistan. It is the second highest figure after Nigeria in the world. This, no doubt, augurs ill for future for this nation. Pakistan missed targets of MD and is likely to miss SDG as well. The out of school conundrum has been haunting this country for decades.
To add more to agony, the infrastructure of schools is dilapidated in toto. They are built improperly. Thousands of schools do not have washrooms. Others are without boundary walls and roofs. According to education Atlas 2016, 29% schools in Pakistan are ‘one-room, one-teacher schools’. This percentage in Balochistan is more appalling 54%. This signals badly for future for this nation.
Arguably, this second-rate education system is, directly or indirectly, responsible for multifaceted problems in Pakistan. Universities churn out of thousands of graduates who go jobless. They resort to illicit or unethical means to meet their both ends. The incompetence, extremism, corruption, instability, etc. are the result of fragile education system. All social, economic, political and religious issues have linkage with education system. Hence, it can be said that illiteracy and bad education are mother of all evils.
Optimistically, the system can be improved by sincere and serious efforts. Government must impose education emergency in the country. Article 25-A of 1973 constitution guarantees “Free and compulsory education” for all. This must be followed in letter and spirit. Besides, government can revamp system by changing contacts, processes and procedures. The strict policy is direly needed. It is also sane to increase education budget by 4%. These steps can pave the way for bright future.
To conclude, the education system in Pakistan is tainted by incompetence and interestedness. Recent reports cast pall of gloom and doom. The quality education is a far cry and ‘out of school problem’ is still looming. The overall infrastructure is devastated. Resultantly, this appalling system has triggered many socio-economic and religion-political issues. However, this endemic can be cured through first-rate medicines.