FAILURE OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM MUST
ASSUME SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR OUR FAILURE
Outline:
I.
Introduction:
-
Education
system as a seedbed for national prosperity
-
Thesis:
Pakistan's socio-political and economic setbacks due to the failure of its
education system to cultivate civic sense, progressivism, creativity, and
leadership.
II.
John
Dewey's perspective in 'Democracy and Education'.
III.
Failure
in the political arena:
-
Conformity
over debate leads to passive followers, not leaders.
-
Resistance
to progressive ideas like democracy and pluralism.
IV.
Failure
in the social sphere:
-
Absence
of a unified education system hindering the evolution of a common national
identity.
-
Emphasis
on grades over moral teaching causing moral morbidity in society (corruption,
intolerance, crime).
V.
Failure
in the economic arena:
-
Dropout
rates, especially among girls, resulting in talent wastage (e.g., the study of
ILM Foundation).
-
Poor
quality of education and lack of teaching modern skills causing a shortage of
skillful human capital for all three sectors of the economy.
VI.
Failure
in the field of science and technology:
-
Lack
of fostering creativity leading to a deficiency in innovation.
VII.
Other
sectors' responsibility alongside the education system.
VIII.
Urgent
need for a complete overhaul of the education system:
-
Addressing
operational deficiencies such as teacher shortage and infrastructure.
-
Adopting
modern practices and innovative policies for quality improvement (e.g., AAS
scheme, HOTS strategy).
IX.
Conclusion
Franklin Delena Roosevelt could not have uttered a nobler
truth about this. He was aware of the fact that schools are the arsenal of
progress. From Plato’s Academy to Aristotle's Lyceum, from Harvard University
of Massachusetts to Al Azhar of Egypt, places of learning have always been the
launchpads of a nation’s rise. They are the workshops that equip a nation with the
necessary tools to build its magnificent future. The education system of a
country is a seedbed that germinates the prosperity of a nation. If this system
falters, the future of the nation becomes bleak. Such a nation has to face
setbacks in every walk of life. Pakistan is in a pickle due to the same reason.
Pakistan is facing socio-political and economic, setbacks because its education
system has failed to cultivate civic. Sense, progressivism, creativity, and
leadership skills within the individuals Moreover, there is no unified system
of education which creates growing fissures within society. Economic disparity
has increased to gargantuan proportions because common Pakistan cannot compete with
their elite compatriots who have the luxury of studying in foreign
Institutions. Pakistan is caught in the chuckles of arrested socio-economic
growth because our education system has failed to provide a key to breaking
away from these shackles.
To begin with, John Dewey has expounded similar views about.
He was a famous American philosopher and pedagogist who wrote extensively on
education. One of such works is his seminal writing. “Democracy and
Education." In this book, he tries to bring home a lesson to this reader
that education is imperative for a country's success. If a state wishes to
stand in the rank of developed states, it should pay attention to its education
system. In his opinion, the education system Is a foundation upon which the edifice
of a mighty nation can be constructed. If that foundation is shaky
superstructure will not survive long.”
This education forms the common mind just like the twig is
bent, the tree is inclined.
The blame for Pakistan’s political failures can be laid on
its flawed education system. It is a common finding in Pakistan that the populace
often acts s a herd which is driven by shrewd politicians for their gains.
There is a dearth of genuine and able leadership. Those who are at the helm of
affairs reach there not by their leadership skills but through kowtowing their
political lords. The climb the political ladder, political relations are more
important than political are more important than political skills. All of this
is the manifestation of a flawed education system. Students are taught
conformity and compliance while inquisitiveness and debate are discouraged. If
a student thinks critically, he will not only get low grades but will also be
mocked and jeered by others. Consequently, schools and colleges have become
factors that produce loyal followers rather than grooming the leaders of the future.
Similarly, our education system instills outdated ideas
therefore our political milieu remains averse to progressive ideas. Pakistani
intelligentsia often laments that democratic and pluralistic ideals have failed
to make their way into Pakistani society. The cause behind this sorry state of
affairs is that our educational institutions teach retrogressive ideas. The
curriculum is outdated and does not fit the modern requirements. According to
Pervez Hoodbhoy, a professor of Physics, Pakistani textbooks do not cover
advancements in Physics made after the 1980s. Similarly, students are not
taught modern governance requirements. They remain oblivious to the exigencies
of modern times. Their thoughts remain backward which also drags the country in
a reverse direction.
Such in the political sphere, Pakistan is also facing
challenges in the social sphere due to the failures of the education system.
The absence of a unified education system has forestalled the evolution of a common
national identity. There are three common national identities. There are three
parallel education systems in Pakistan. Cambridge-based o and A levels,
matriculation system, and Dars-e-Nizami-based madrassah system. All three
systems teach differently and create varied worldviews among the students.
Resultantly, different identities emerge with different historical inspirations
and future aspirations. Some like Mohammad bin Qasim while others admire
Alexander the Great. Some wish to make Pakistan a shariah-based country while
others want to turn it into a secular state. Sadly enough, divergent education
systems have product divergent identities.
“If you tech one child to admire apples
and another to admire oranges.
How can you expect them to admire
each other with different admirations?"
Faisal Bari
Likewise, our education has failed to prevent rising moral
morbidity in society because it ignores moral teaching. It focuses merely on
grades and scores. A student will be considered a good student if he scores
well irrespective of his character. With increasing modernization, informal
education in the home is dwindling. To make matters worse, the formal education
system has failed to take the responsibility of moral edification and
enlightenment of children. As a result, the youth indulge in crime and corruption.
Like Saad Aziz and Noreen Laghari fall prey to intolerant ideologies amidst the
void of moral guidance. As long as education does not import lessons of civic
sense and ethics among the youth, wretchedness, and villainy will continue to
wreak havoc on Pakistan.
Just like the political and social spheres, the economic
sphere of Pakistan is also facing myriad challenges due to a flawed education
system. The flaws and lowness in the education system result in drop-outs
(especially of girls) which causes wastage of precious talent. The findings of
a study conducted by the ILM Foundation in 2016 are pertinent in this regard.
According to the report, the dropout rate in Pakistan is the second highest in
the world, similarly, most of the out-of-school children are girls. As many
girls do not get an education, they do not become part of the country’s workforce.
The study concludes that if girl’s enrollment becomes equal to that of boys
(which is low itself), Pakistan’s GDP will grow at a 3% faster rate. In the absence
of an educated and diversified workforce, Pakistan’s GDP Is losing 68 billion
dollars annually.
In addition, the quality of education is poor, and modern
skills are not taught which causes a dearth of skillful human capital in all
three sectors of the economy. It is an incontrovertible reality that the agricultural
sector, industrial sector, and services sector require skillful labor. In its
absence, productivity levels plummet and efficiency takes a nose-dive.
According to the UNDP Report 2016, Pakistan ranks 142 out of 174 countries in the
Appropriate Skills Index (ASI), Educational institutions of Pakistan do not
teach skills that are required for the Twenty-first century. Resultantly, all
sectors of Pakistan’s economy take a serious blow as to the levels of
productivity growth. Skilled labor is the engine of growth in the
knowledge-based economy of the present day. In the absence of skilled human
capital, Pakistan's economic growth will remain stunted.
Last but not least our education system does not foster
creativity which Pakistan is lacking in the fields of innovation, science, and
technology. In the modern era, creative ideas, are the oil on which the engine
of progress sups. On this count, Pakistan has even failed to compete with its
neighbors. Our universities produce PhD scholars who have plagiarized their
theses. Research has become practically non-existent. Bright students move to
foreign universities as local universities do not have adequate facilities. All
these factors act in tandem to discourage innovation, ingenuity, and creativity
in the students. Everyone has trodden the old path because it is considered
safe while China and India continue to find new avenues to explore Mars.
