Education is a life encompassing process that demands a comprehensive and holistic approach. Rightly remarked by the Nobel Prize winner, Albert Einstein “Education is not the learning of facts but the training of the mind to think”. In plain words, education means developing the power of the mind to think critically and view the world in a logical perspective. Critical thinking and independent judgment are the inherent outcomes of effective education. It leads to the emergence of rational personality that forms the basis of an enlightened and democratic society.
But the story of education is grim and gloomy in the land of pure. This is deeply linked with historical legacy of the British elitist education system and the lack of political will in the post partition era. The present education system of Pakistan is traditional and parallel education, which has polarised and radicalised the society. It encourages rote learning and is only regarded as the filling of an empty vessel. The dogmatic syllabus and outdated examination and assessment system has produced a lot which is incapable of competing with the globalising trends of education.
In this era of knowledge based economy, the higher education institutes are not equipped with expertise and specialisation to foster research and innovative thinking. Education is not merely about socio-economic development, it is a national security issue in developing countries like Pakistan. The staggering population annual growth of 2.4 percent, coupled with inadequate allocation of funds (2 percent of the GDP) has resulted in a breeding ground for extremism and fanaticism in the youth which constitutes 65 percent of our population.
A well-formed mind is better than a well-filled mind
It is high time to convert this liability into an asset by investing liberally in human resource development that will open gateways to sustainable and inclusive development. Structural and systematic reforms backed by political will and technical skills are inevitable to place the country on the trajectory of peace and prosperity. A robust policy making process that includes all the stakeholders is needed to develop a broad evidence based mechanism on mutual consultation. The underlying focus of the reforms should be the development of a homogenous education system with unified and innovative syllabus that can meet the challenges of the globalised world. This will contribute to social justice and economic prosperity, resulting in national integration.
The PTI government’s agenda of human resource development is a paradigm shift from the hardware development of society to its software at least in terms of vision. A workable and plausible policy recommendation should include the following Holistic 4 Es: Expansion, equity, excellence and employability.
Expansion refers to an increase in the enrollment rate at the primary and higher levels of education to increase the current literacy rate of 58% to a level comparable to other South Asian countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal and India. Equity will be the inclusion of the excluded for social and political empowerment in the underdeveloped areas of Balochistan and former FATA. Excellence is to impart quality education that should develop minds and inculcate tolerance. A well-formed mind is better than a well filled mind.
Employability implies the production of graduates which are well equipped with professional skills that can contribute exponentially in the acquisition of employment and carrier development.
It is need of the hour for the newly installed PTI government to materialise the dream of a welfare state based on the core ingredient of true education. The education reforms should be implemented in letter and spirit to usher a new era of sustainable development based on egalitarian values of equality, tolerance and mutual respect. It will earn Pakistan an indubitable reputation in the comity of nations. I will conclude with the undeniable words of USA former and wisest president Abraham Lincoln, “The philosophy of school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next generation.”
The writer is serving as assistant Director in federal Department in Peshawar and aspirant of competitive exams with keen interest in national and international affairs)
Published in Daily Times, March 24th 2019.