The education system of any country is comprised of all those institutions, departments and organizations, which are directly or indirectly involved in managing, regulating and financing educational setup of that country. Being member of the United Nation and in-statement of the article 25-A in constitution, the government of Pakistan and related institutions are compelled to provide free, fair and compulsory education to every single of child of Pakistan with in age range of 5-16 years. Irrespective of their, cast, creed, mental capacity and economical status.
Being participant of Dhaka declaration and millennium development goals (MDGs), Pakistan was supposed to fulfill goals of Educational for All (EFA) by 2005, Universal Primary Education goal i.e. every child between the ages of 3-16 years must be enrolled in primary education by 2015 and gender equality goal which aimed at promoting female education and women empowerment respectively. Although, Pakistani government has made significant developments in the accomplishment of these goals but due following factors, she has failed achieved these goals in total:
One of major hurdle in the completion of these goals is scarcity of teaching staff. According to 2015 statics, presently around 41,018,384 students has been enrolled in education system. And for this huge amount there are only 15, 35, and 401 teaching staff. That’s means that every teacher has to deal with 27 students at a time. Because of which teachers are unable to address the educational and learning problems of every student.
Moreover, majority of government educational institutions have failed to provide basic necessities and proper infrastructure to their students and ambles of surveys have highlighted that majority of public sectors educational institutions are not providing clean water, standard canteens and proper transportation facilities to their students. Because of which large number of children are unable to get education especially female students.
Different medium of instructions has always remained a great dilemma for our educationalist and education policy makers. And these medium based discrepancies are posing serious issues in the development and implementation of uniform curriculum and educational policies. It is very important to mention here that promotion of indigenous language is vital part of national integration and national interest. But being part of global world we can’t ignore the vitality and significance of English and other international languages.
Presently, there are almost 2, 60,903 schools all over the Pakistan, out of which 1, 80,840 (69% ) are government schools and 80,037 (31%) are of private in nature. And majority of these schools are located in urban areas because which large number of children remained deprived from education. Moreover, an irrationally expensive fee structure of private school systems is another serious impediment in the completion of EFA and MDGs.
Because of lack of public awareness and law and order issues of underdeveloped regions especially interior Sindh, Baluchistan and KPK most of the presents are reluctant to send their wards especially girls to schools and colleges. Moreover, our educational structure promotes and appreciates parrot learning instead of innovative and creative mental development.
Keeping in mind the education related problems, there is a dire need to develop and implement modernized and national educational policy. That should encompassed following suggestions:
Uniformed curriculum should be introduced in all educational institutions of Pakistan. So that students from rural and government institutions could compete with the students of urban and private institutions.
Like Punjab, other provinces also need to established maximum numbers of schools and colleges in rural areas and should also promoted and encouraged inclusive education systems, so that physically challenged student can also play their part in national and economical developments 25% percent of our curriculum especially after secondary education should comprised of innovative, vocational and technical educations. This will help in the production of skilled and constructive human resource. And will also help Pakistan in improving human capital.
Moreover, government should develop uniformed fee structure for both public and private institutes. And government must introduced career counseling centers in every school and colleges, so that institutes could produce polished and well groomed lots.