History of Pakistan Education

Multiple Education Systems in History of Pakistan

At the time of birth in 1,947 the nation had no resources to survive and make strong education in Pakistan; however with the passage of time hundreds of institutions and training centers were established all over the country. Major two systems throughout history were introduced; traditional and modern. The traditional directed towards Islamic schools called madrassahs. The number of Islamic schools (madrassahs) has increased since 1,995 due to strong movement by Afghan Mujahidin against Western culture and modernism. These movements in Pakistan and Afghanistan have bad effects against modern culture and pressurize the nation accordingly. Some political parties still have soft corner about Islamic schools (madrassahs) in the country. But the state has failed to register these madrassahs all over the country and only 4,500 madrassahs are registered. Modern system has long history directed towards modern schooling from primary to university level. Due to this modern culture Pakistan has millions of doctors, engineers; bankers etc. who are serving all over the world. The nation looking preferred this modern culture on Islamic schooling.

Role of Muslim Leaders to Promote Modern culture in Pakistan Education history

Muslim Leaders for History of Pakistan Education

A long time ago Muslim leaders focused only Islamic/ Arabic culture but near about partition of Sub-Continent, these Muslim leaders decided to adopt modern learning system initiated by the British. As a result a Muslim leader Sir Syed Ahmed Khan tried to introduce Pakistani youth with English language. This language was used as medium of instructions. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan has realized that Muslim community will fall behind if they did not prefer this learning technique on Islamic method. In 1875, Anglo-Oriental College was established under his leadership. This institution produced hundreds of advanced graduates, hundreds of students moved to England to get higher studies. This college produced politicians which played an important role in Muslim movements.

Role of Institutions to build strong Education History of Pakistan

In the presidency of major cities like Madras, Bombay and Calcutta, three universities were established in 1857. These universities provided good chance to get graduate degrees in social sciences and natural sciences. Resultant, these institutions produced hundreds of graduates and master degree holders. On strong movement by Hindus community to adopt modern study system, all Muslim leaders decided to follow them accordingly. According to 1973 Pakistan Constitution, Urdu language must be used in all offices so; it was decided to give status to Urdu language as National Language. Both English and Urdu languages have long history.

Effects of 9/11 Incident on Pakistan Education System and History of Pakistan

After 9/11 incident, Pakistan had to revise education policies especially for Islamic schools (madrassahs) to

9/11 & Education in Pakistan

avoid terrorist activities. Hundreds of girl’s schools have badly effected through terrorism and extremism especially in rural areas of KPK and Baluchistan. The sitting government decided to take action against these terrorists and formulate “National Action Plan”. This government has announced to increase learning GDP from 2% to 5% during next 5 years. Due to absence of democratic environment throughout history every government had different direction of “National Education Policies”. Thousands of doctors, engineers have moved to advanced countries due to such environment and culture. Currently, Pakistan has 5% population of non-Muslims. These minorities have established their own institutions. These institutions have produced thousands of graduates all over the country.

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The Role of Private and Public Sector-Education in Pakistan

Challenges for Public Sector and Private Sector- Pakistan Education

The Public and Private sectors have been able to provide good results of providing quality education all over the country, however it needs to continue the struggle. Pakistan has poor schooling system with poor standards due to changing of “National Education Policies” in different decades throughout history. Currently, we have a big challenge of increasing population ratio day by day and approx.75% people have low standards of living all over the country. The elite families have full control over resources and nation’s wealth. The nation has weak learning system due to having low GDP rate (2%) as compare to other countries of South Asia. Keeping in mind above all issues, what should be the role of public sector and private sector/community to improve our system/culture that is big question?

Government Role in Pakistan Education System

Realizing the schooling crises in the country the sitting government decided to address this sector periodically.

Govt. Role in Education in Pakistan

Prime Minister Mr. Nawaz Sharif has announced to increase GDP from 2% to 4% during coming 5 years and make it possible to produce quality all over the country. The government will try to develop such environment that poor families will have access to get training.  But the government also should provide subsidy in following areas.

v  Schooling fees

v  Books/ note books costs

v  Student and Teachers Training

Role of Community Organizations in Education in Pakistan

It must keep in mind that state can’t meet the challenges without cooperation of NGOs, Public Sector,

Role of Public Education Sector

Private Sector and Community Organizations (COs) or Local Support Organizations (LSOs). It needs to address the major issues all over the country and then action is required with support of these organizations. These community authorities are playing an important role between people and the government. They are providing services such as financial, technical and managerial that helps people to get ride from poverty. They are trying to build a bridge between school management committees and local government to improve schooling system all over the country. Resultant, these communities are succeeding to build above 300K schools.  For example a LSO in Bahawalpur approached to District Education Department resolve the issues faced by school teachers /students and succeeded to get approx. 1 Million for this purpose.

Private Sector and Public Education Sector

Private and Public Education

The performance of public and private schooling needs to be improved all over the country. Society is trying

to equal participate to make a strong system. For example, an educated former may have good production and can get social benefits, a literate person has knowledge about his rights and will follow the rules, and an educated woman will perform well in every field of life as compare to illiterate woman. The government should revise policies especially should design individual friendly policies.

Let’s have a look on performance of private education situation in the country. Since poor children have no access to these schools so, it needs to set policy for this schooling system by the Govt. These schools are not answerable to any government authority. They do not have training centers for teachers training to develop teaching skills. They are ready to charge full fees for period of summer session but not ready to develop teaching skills of their teachers and other faculty members.

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The Role of Educational NGOs in Pakistan

Challenges for NGOs in Education in Pakistan

Poverty in Pakistan and Educational NGOs Role

The role of educational NGOs can’t be ignoring in Pakistan. These organizations have different tasks to improve culture especially early and primary level children. We have failed to control overpopulation ratio which causes to create different problems for nation. Currently, Pakistan has above 170 millions of population from which above 20 million children are out of school. The uneven distribution of natural resources is a big reason to increase poverty and inflation rate all over the country. Public schools have shortage of motivated teachers, furniture and good environment/culture to set standards. NGOs are ready to offer services such as building capacity, mobilizing, convincing to poor families, idea innovation, analysis and researches. They will also play role in different fields along with networking and partnership creation.

Success of Educational NGO

I have experience to work with an NGO in Lahore. In 2006, a primary school in Badami Bagh area started functioning with only 10 students @ Rs. 10 per month fees. They started vocational learning and training programs as well. After 4 years the community had access to send their children to school in that area. NGOs should not and can’t play the role of government due to dependency on donors but ensure that government is willing to fulfill its responsibilities. In 1947 many voluntary organizations came forward to participate accordingly.

Functions of NGOs in Pakistan Education

NGOs perform the following major functions in this field:

v  Land for school

Educational NGOs in Pakistan

v  Construction process

v  Hiring quality teachers

v  Capital/Budget in hand

v  Opening training centers

v  Arrangement of furniture, books and note books

v  Parents encouraging to send their children in the school instead of labor work

v  Improving the student skills at all levels

v  Time to time meetings with donors and parents

It needs to have good strategy to get desired results. For example, unemployed teachers at low salaries should be target and they should be trained if needed. Today, we need to expand vision statement of learning process to fulfill “Education for All” and have to accept the solid role of NGOs/Private sector.

Further, these organizations have to face following challenges in this field.

v  Cost Effectiveness

Since private and public schools are not ready to admit poor children due to high expenses/dues. But NGOs are successful to convince poor families at low cost.

v  Learning Abilities

Today, NGOs have training programs for teachers and students especially in rural areas they are focusing on communication and development skills.

v  Introducing English Language at Early Stage

Since NGOs are running with children from gross root level families, it is a big challenge to introduce such children with English language.

Foreign Donor’s Contribution in Pakistan Education

Here we want to highlight the role of foreign agencies.

Foreign NGO in Education in Pakistan

Since 1960, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) helps the Pakistan community and providing social support especially in basic learning for poor girls. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has opened different channels with the help of Pakistan Government and private sector. They are ready to focus women issues, teachers training, primary level learning, social culture and health in rural areas. Similarly USAID is playing an important role for Pakistani nation.

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Trends of Vocational Training and Education in Pakistan

Importance of Pakistan Vocational Education- Training Centers

Vocational education and training have been played an important role to increase the individual production, profitability of employees and development expansion. Highly skilled individuals in specific field always considered as an asset for development of any country. Recent researches and paper analyses have proved and accepted the abilities of trained individuals through vocational education all over the country. It is most important if you want to join technical field as well. Since Pakistan education system is weak as compare to other countries of Asia so it needs to have trained individual’s service all over the country. Due to overpopulation situation in the country, millions of people are unemployed and organizations are not ready to bear fresh candidates. This trend rapidly changing day by day and leading companies or institutions have schedule of courses/programs.

The Role of NGOs for Vocational Training and Education

Vocational Training and Education Skills

NGOs have a big role to promote this education and helping the Govt. to reduce unemployment ratio. All unemployed individuals should participate and attend seminars conducted by NGOs/Organizations to get development skills and employment. Individual can get technical skills for skill development and getting jobs with the help of NGOs. Being a big education stakeholder NGOs not only playing a solid role for revenue generation and productivity of skill development but also helping to reduce poverty ratio from all over the country. They are helping the candidates to fulfill the requirement of jobs.

The Role of Vocational Institutions and Training Centers

Institutional Role for Technical &Vocational Training

Since vocational education and training are important part of our education system, all institutions should participate to enhance their abilities accordingly.

v  These institutions should try to develop dynamics and learning structure all over the country.

v  The management must ensure and monitor the standards learning.

v  They should regulate the smooth process of examination and recruitment.

v  The quality education should be core objective of these institutions.

v  All institutions must ensure to have skilled teachers and upgrade their performance periodically.

v  They should have proper equipment/instruments to maintain their standards.

v  To enhance development skills, amongst all institutions must have close coordination and arrange meetings to identify the core issues.

v  The designed courses and programs must be in such a way that individuals can easily participate/admit to improve their skills.

v  These institutions must coordinate with other education stakeholders and try to promote it all over the country.

v  There should be proper evaluation and feedback system to avoid any issue.

Government Role for Vocational Education & Training

Pakistan Govt. Role for Vocation Training and Education

Pakistan Govt. is trying to improve the education system especially from 2001 and have started different projects for this purpose. Since millions of students are unable to get admission in private schools and colleges due to high expenses. Maximum institutions are offering short term courses from primary level to graduation with support of government. The government must also review the “National Education Policy” and specify the budget for this learning all over the country. It needs to open maximum training centers especially in rural areas to produce development skills.

In the end media should start a campaign to promote vocational education and its importance through all channels. The management of technical institutions should revise their policies to remove education flaws. The parents should focus and participate for their under graduate children instead of sending for labor work. 

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