Sir: Our country got independence almost 68 years ago, and the public sector is still unable to provide quality education to the younger lot. Now, day by day, the situation is going from bad to worse as in the government institutions, teachers, parents and students are not caring for the deterioration of the education system, which is definitely resulting in multidimensional problems for the youth at home and abroad. Cheating has become so common that both merit and talent are in sheer decline and we have become a laughing stock in the world. It has rendered our degrees worthless and our educated candidates are reassessed for admissions or jobs abroad. In my opinion, the basic reason behind this nuisance in our country is widespread corruption. I must say, our government should be blamed for all this, because it has always given a low priority to education. The education sector gets stepmotherly treatment in budget allocations, teachers are low paid, humiliated and are treated as a labour class and students have become the victim of non-academic trends in society. I would request the government to reform our education system, bring a positive change in it, allocate proper funding, restore the honour and dignity of teachers, direct educational institutions to give admission to all desirous in the closer vicinity and provide these institutions proper infrastructure and the latest facilities. Everyone must be aware of the fact that we have no future without education. SARWAT GHOURI Karachi