The Education System in Pakistan

No matter how glorious a nation has its past and how many natural resources it owns at present if it has a defective education system, it perhaps won’t survive as an integrated nation given neoteric warfare techniques. In the modern world, it is, undoubtedly, education that determines the prosperity of a nation as well as its power and position in the international community. Individuals having given quality education are the best source a state can rely on in defending its national interests. The quality of education in turn is based on the education system. Developed countries have well-organized and developed education system for the entire country. Whereas most of the developing and underdeveloped countries -including Pakistan- are lagging in this sector.

Here are six problems with the education system of Pakistan

Multi-types Of Education

In Pakistan, the education system is based on different educations. On top, there is English medium and madrassa (missionary) education where students are taught Islam- Quran, and Sunnah along with other Islamic teachings. These two are different; as sciences and English is not part of the madrassah education and Quran and Sunnah comprehensively are not taught at the English medium schools. Then there is further division in the English type of Education -Government and Private schools. Private schools up to grade eight have different curriculums whereas the Government schools have distinct as well from that of the Private schools. Moreover, in Private schools, there are two types, the upper-class schools and the lower class which comparatively are cheap- and have low-quality education. The teachers at this type of schools are untrained, unqualified, and less paid. This division in the education system leads to the division of the nation. In addition, the quality of education is adversely affected as madrassa certified students do not understand English. Owing to the poor education middle-lower and lower class also do not understand English.

Examination System

Above the eight-grade, the Board examination is conducted across the country and all the students’ performance is evaluated based on which they are promoted to the next classes. However, the system is not that transparent as it sounds. There is only one teacher present in each hall or room and his duty is almost over a hundred students. in such a case, students resort to illegal and unfair means while attempting their papers. But when the teacher is asked why he has let the students cheat he comes up with lame excuses such as single teacher can’t do anything solely. Furthermore, for checking and marking the papers the answer sheets are sent to teachers who, most of the time, do not check themselves. They give the papers to their students for checking. It is observed that when they check and mark papers, they only consider the handwriting and not the whole sheet is thoroughly checked. Thus, the intellectual performance is not evaluated, and no comprehensive performance and progress of the students are examined in the examination system.

Lack Of Interest On The Part Of Governments

No government has so far shown any interest in reforming the education system of Pakistan. The funds allocated to the education sector are minimal as compare to other sectors such as defence. The governments’ lack of sincerity with the education system has left this sector a sick man which is outrightly failed in producing men of a high calibre so far. Even governments’ lack of interest can be viewed from the fact that students attending government schools are exceeding in numbers than of the chairs, rooms, and building available to them. This indicates the government’s lack of interest in the education sector.

Untrained Teaching Staff

Another problem of the education system of Pakistan is the unqualified and untrained teaching staff. The teachers available at government schools are not well-versed in the subjects they teach. There is no arrangement for the professional development of the teachers. These teachers are not trained and taught the techniques of teaching. As a result of which they beat students to death for trivial mistakes. Alongside, the drop-out rate from elementary school is so high and alarming. Instead of learning in school, students play out in the streets.

Outdated Curricula

The curriculum is that basic tool through which the goal is achieved. Unfortunately, the curriculum in the education system of Pakistan is outdated. It does not meet the needs of the time. Most of the subjects are stagnated in the twentieth century and not upgraded to date. This results in student’s negligence of the current developments in different subjects and keeps the students oblivious of the contemporary novel inventions and discoveries.

Ratta Culture

Ratta (cramming) culture is another serious problem of the education system of Pakistan. Students are taught to memorize the whole textures of the lessons and, little heed is paid to comprehension. The whole concentration is focused on memorizing textures, no time is given to understanding and conceptualization the lessons. As a result, these students can’t do analytical and critical studies. The importance of Ratta is due to the importance given to marks. Students are directed that if they didn’t secure good marks, they will not be given admission at colleges. Thus, instead of ‘learning’, marks are glorified.

The education system in Pakistan has many problems ranging from poor teaching staff to defective examination systems. These problems have halted the growth of quality education in the country. The youth of the nation is deprived of their basic need by such a defective education system. Moreover, the education system is not based on equal footing: a large number of the lower-class children are unable to attend quality schools thereby ending them up relinquishing their schoolings. In addition, the government schools are not well entrenched built in the rural areas, that too leaving children out of schools: uneducated.