The higher education in Pakistan is in a dismal state of affairs regarding teaching and research and same is the case with the different public and private sector universities, but it is really difficult to blame solely the professors for the poor show. There are many factors that contribute to the debacle. It includes the existing spoon-feeding culture on the part of students; the poor examination system (the five questions dilemma); ignorance of students about the research culture (while pursuing MPhil and PhD); lack of reading culture among the research students and also the lack of true infrastructure for them.
But besides all of this, it is also the will of the students that has hindered their way to transform themselves. The research degrees are quite different from the taught ones — where a teacher standing in front of the class is the focus of entire learning process. The research degrees demand the opposite; it puts stress on the students to transform themselves by acquainting to the new reading, thinking, writing and intellectual speaking culture.
The job of the university teacher — preferably a supervisor — in this research culture is advisory. It is the model that helps the students to develop their own projects and make their own wise decision about it and later on defend it.
It is the stability of thinking and independent grooming that result while pursuing a research degree in the true academic and research environment. Indeed, the end product of all these activities is to create critical minds, which can question phenomenon, raise doubts, debate the issues in academic way, contribute new knowledge to the field and after all who can stand as a custodian of knowledge.
The trend of applying and preparing for the competitive examination in past has now been taken over by the research degrees. It has become a fashion for the students in Pakistan to get admission in any university for MPhil and PhD, but hardly do they know or are interested in knowing the rules of the game and the value of this highest academic degree.
In past, failure to produce a true research culture in the country was owing to different reasons. It was a time when there was no Internet, computers, and very fewer research journals. It was hard to publish papers due to many constrains including dependence on the typewriters and lack of awareness about the publications. But now we live in the age of technological revolution and everything is just a click away from the desired content. But with this technological advancement, an array of degradation has also been witnessed in the society, running all over the corners.
The phase we are passing through now will take us nowhere. It’s not merely about getting a piece of paper or producing a dull mind; but it is about achieving the values that later integrate into the system to form the core of the research culture. It may be difficult, initially, but not impossible to redefine our research system, which is culturally friendly, ethically protected and socially supported. It’s not about the “classic” or “taught” model, but it’s about our needs and demands.
The job of the university teacher is not merely that of teaching. Making significant contributions to the field also counts in large amount
It is the time to take bold decisions and stand by them. If the ‘Mundarjazel’ exam culture (the prevailing five questions model) has failed badly, then better leave it. The more comprehensive model focusing on the opening up of the students’ minds should be considered or taken into account.. The purpose of education is not about boosting one’s memory — but it’s all about the boosting of one’s critical thinking and judgment. Therefore, the need is to encourage and implement such examination system, which focuses on the enhancement of the reading on the part of students. Indeed, it gives one the opportunity to become more aware of the existing environment and identify one’s true potential.
The job of the university teacher is not merely teaching — but also publishing to make the significant contribution to the field. It is hard to judge the university teacher only on the basis of teaching.
We should not give up on the research culture. Indeed, we should try to fix the loopholes in the existing system or change it upside down. The students need to be taught more about the challenging and laborious process of pursuing the research degrees so that more dedicated students can come forward.
It is equally important to provide the peace of mind to the students by ensuring the proper research space (where they can work), access to the relevant international journals (in all fields) and the newly published relevant books. These initiatives will ensure the way for the better research culture in Pakistan where the students won’t be awarded degree (for free), but they will learn winning it.
The writer recently completed PhD in Journalism Studies from the University of Sheffield, UK. He currently teaches at the Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Peshawar. He can be reached at [email protected]
Published in Daily Times, July 27th 2017.