Pakistan Educational Policies-National

Educational Policies and Nationalization in Pakistan - 1972

Every new government had new National Education Policy with different objectives throughout the history but unable to achieved all designed goals due to involving of political aspects. Pakistan has to face different challenges due to changing of learning policies throughout the history. The government was responsible to monitor and evaluate the performance of institutions. The major role was to ensure all programs completed within timelines. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) played an important role to make nationalize private institutions. This step was taken purely on political basis.

Education Policy of Pakistan - 1979

This was the first education policy after nationalization of institutions in Pakistan. The President of Pakistan called a meeting in Oct 1977 after changing the government in 1977 and new policy was announced in 1979 having following important features in presence of Pakistan Constitution.

v  All contents must be around the Islamic thought

v  All Islamic school must be introduced with new scientific techniques

v  Urdu language should/must be used as medium of instruction in all institutions/offices

v  The government will provide training opportunities for good work production

v  Technical training and learning must be focused

v  Establishment of new institutions along with quality training

v  Community participation must be ensured to increase the literacy rate

v  For women empowerment, separate schools/colleges must be established all over the country

The main objectives and goals of above policy were not implemented and achieved

Educational Policy in Pakistan -1992

Pakistan Education Policy 1992

The main features of this policy were as following:

v  All contents must be around the Islamic thought

v  Make it possible to increase enrollment of primary education by 2002

v  It was decided to increase literacy rate up to 70% by 2002

v  The role of teachers and learning process must be moderate

v  Mobilizing the community/media participation to promote early and primary learning

v  The government will appreciate to private sector and its participation in education programs

v  Vocational and technical skills must be focused at high school level

v  To make strong examination and admission procedure, National Testing Services (NTS) must be introduced which will be helpful to design merit base system all over the country.

Again the main objectives and goals were not achieved/ implemented due to involving of political interests; however following objectives were achieved positively in this policy.

v  To promote early and primary education along with quality.

v  School Management Committee (SMC) system was introduced at lowest level all over the country

v  Pakistani women were invited to play role in teaching profession

v  Quality teachers were focused and encouraged by providing them awards

v  By following the order of Supreme Count of Pakistan, student Unions were banned at university level

Pakistan National Education Policy (1998-2010)

The salient features of changing policies from 1998 to 2010 were as following:

v  It was decided to introduce all learning centers in light of Quran and Sunnah

v  Once again literacy rate was focused to increase up to 70% by 2010

v  Student enrollment was strongly focused to enroll 105% children by 2010 all over the country. For this purpose double shifts were started in existing schools.

v  In this policy secondary school level education also targeted and will try to increase participation from 31% to 48% by 2003.

v  Quality teachers were focused and all teachers must be trained and skilled so that they can introduce students with new scientific techniques

v  The government committed to expand at least 5% for higher education by 2010

Different challenges in other fields like Information Technology, Documentation Services, Innovation Programs, Monitoring and Evaluation system were targeted to face by 2010.

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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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Media Role for Pakistan Education System

Media Responsibilities for Education in Pakistan

Media is an important source to promote importance of education in Pakistan. It has not fruitful history regarding this role for getting desired results. All channels are focusing political issues and have divided/selected political parties instead of playing neutral role. It needs to choose right track and improvement for betterment in future. All concern stakeholders should get agree on single platform and point out the weaknesses of our learning system. Both electronic and paper authorities should come forward to participate and deliver a strong message along with positive suggestions. Today, we are going to highlight some important points regarding learning structure in Pakistan and how media can address these issues for positive outcomes in future.

Measurement of Quality Education through all Media Channels

Pakistan News and Newspaper

This is a big challenge for Pakistan, it is important to discuss how it can help out to produce quality learning all over the country. It is impossible without proper auditing and monitoring policy. One education system along with same syllabus must be introduced in all areas of the country. All ghost schools and quality teacher should be focused to measure its quality. This can be a big task for both teams to have surveys on it and provide feedback accordingly.

Initial Education Environment and culture

Home environment is the first learning point for a child. This is the main responsibility of parents to create good home environment for positive learning especially mothers can play an important role for this purpose. It should review its role to create awareness in society through all stations. However, some channels are trying to fulfill their responsibilities all over the country like GEO-Zara Sochiye.

Awareness of Technical and Vocational Education

This trend has increased throughout the history and all regular schools and organizations are getting interest to introduce their candidates/employees with new techniques through technical training  All channels are equally responsible to promote and identify the key performance of special institutions/training centers. Since millions of children are out of schools so it needs to enroll these children and increase no of training centers along with all required equipment all over the country.

Governance

Pakistan Education Flaws

It can play an important role to make good governance in this field. Millions of women are illiterate especially in rural areas and they are not allowed to go for getting learning and training.  It needs to have surveys and support the Govt. to make good governance all over the country. National security policy should be strictly followed to avoid terrorism and extremists attacks.

Monitoring Policy

Pakistan Education Budget

Pakistan has poor education system due to having low GDP rate and other its flaws as compare to other countries of our region. Being a strong source, it should help to make strong monitory policy/auditing.

In the end we have to realize that Pakistan media is unable to play its role so far to make strong system in the country. This is the time to summarize and categorize the whole process and all stakeholders should come forward to play their role for betterment in future.

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Pakistan Special Education and Deaf Children

Special Education for Special Children

Special education for special children has been provided since independence of Pakistan in 1947. This system has to face ups and downs throughout the history. Pakistan stands on 7^th number of most populous in the world but 160^th in literacy rate. Deaf children and special education have become challenge for Pakistan where already millions of children have to go for labor work instead of education. Millions of mothers are unable to feed their children due to poverty situation in the country. Currently, Pakistan has to face above 3% of disable people. By viewing such situation many questions may occur in minds under population pressure like, how a deaf child feels and thinks about his future? How he can get attention of society and parents? How he can play an important role for his country? The progress for special people was seen in different decades especially from 1,980 to 1,995. All stakeholders like Govt. of Pakistan, NGOs, Parents and Teachers played an important role for special people all over the country.

Special Education and Training Centers of Deaf Children

Special Education of Deaf

From 1,947 special schools and training centers have been opened for deaf children and treated separately. Since Pakistan has high illiteracy rate of population so all concerned stakeholders have different approach of behavior and treating methods to such individuals. Generally, all regular institutions avoid admitting the disable and deaf students. The management of regular schools thinks that they will have to arrange special arrangements like hearing tools, training centers and teachers for these students. They think that it is responsibility of special schools and training centers so avoid from disable children. The parents and teachers think that deaf individuals have low learning qualities so should be treated separately from normal students.

Instructional Approach for Deaf Children

Special Training of Deaf

Since Pakistan has poor education system, so instructional approach in general and special education not being effective. It has to been observed that most of teachers and parents never used “Sign Language” for special children. Similarly most of teachers avoid using cued speech in class rooms. It needs to use “Sign Language” at national level to help out in improving communication skills accordingly. The special schools and training centers are not in good position so that can introduce deaf students with new techniques and learning ways. The institutions are unable to purchase equipment and higher the trained teachers. Resultant  they are unable to provide fruitful results. Further, it has been observed that above 90% don’t have expensive hearing aids for this purpose.

General Perception about Special Education and Deaf Children

Pakistani society is not ready to provide positive response to deaf individuals. Generally, they don’t treat them as part of this society and think that all deaf individuals have low ability to survive in lives. Due to poverty situation and countrywide unemployment all disable people are looking like burden for society and should be treated separately by sitting Govt. Normally, parents are ready to attend their normal children and haven’t time for deaf children. They don’t have to attend meetings with teachers and follow instructions or guidelines for betterment as well. The organizations are not ready to have vacancies or special quota for these special candidates/applicants. They are offering only low grades at low salaries ignoring the qualities candidates.

In the end all stakeholders including NGOs should come forward and play an important role for all disable people.

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Education and Poverty in Pakistan

Highlights of Poverty in Pakistan

The Poverty in Pakistan has become major issue, it is important to understand the basic reason of poverty in Pakistan and its effects on education in Pakistan system. Pakistan can’t deny this ground reality that millions of children are not going to school and million of mothers are unable to feed their children due to poverty. The poverty in Pakistan not only affects education system but also people living standards. The various reasons are to be found to increase ration of poverty in Pakistan as “Un-employment, Distribution of resources”.

Poverty in Pakistan

Due to poverty in Pakistan millions of families are living under poverty line and can’t afford even basic education in Pakistan for their children and have to drop out during education in Pakistan, unable to pay fees and other responsibilities in other words millions of children have no access to get education in Pakistan as well. Although the government has constitutionally mandated free education in Pakistan, as stated by Article 25-A of the 18th Amendment in the Constitution, which reads, “The state shall provide free and compulsory educational to all children aged of five to 16 years..,” such promulgations are useless rhetorical charades until the state enacts a series of policies that directly target the specific reasons that prevent a child from attaining his or her constitutionally-mandated, non-negotiable right to a free education in Pakistan.

Monitoring the Education Policies

The Government should review the poverty in Pakistan and education in Pakistan policies because education and training are interlined with ratio of poverty in Pakistan, especially it needs to address in rural areas where girls are forced to stop educating. It has been observed that poor parents are taking help their children to spend seasonal farming or other work activities to face financial activities. Thousands of children have to go for crime due to situation of poverty in Pakistan.

Child Labor in Pakistan

Student Enrollment Rate

The Public education in Pakistan have bad situation in sense of student enrollment rates, in rural areas enrollment rates are decreasing with the passage of time each year and mostly it happens due to poverty in Pakistan. Millions of families are unable to spend extra coin. For example a poor family has to face suddenly an accident or emergency then may require a child to go for labor work instead of getting education in Pakistan and provide assistance accordingly, in such case child is going to take up new responsibilities for whole life.

Due to wrong distribution of financial resources and poverty in Pakistan, millions of families are unable to set their goals for future and prevent from any strategically planning. The true picture of poverty in Pakistan effects on education in Pakistan looks in internal Sindh and Baluchistan rural areas. Approximately above 90 percent children are not going to school in our tribal areas.

Role of Govt./NGOs/Educational Institutions/Media

Educational NGOs in Pakistan

In the end we are surprised to know that Pakistan has number of laws regarding protection of child rights and NGOs are working on it as well as on poverty but even then state has fails to deliver results accordingly. This is shocking for us that majority of people are living under poverty in Pakistan line then how it is possible to get education for all. Its responsibility of “The Government, Parents, NGOs, Educational Institutions and Media” to come forward and participate for children right of education in Pakistan. The Government will have to work for poverty policy because it is directly affecting education system in the society.

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Challenges for Pakistan Teacher Education-Training and Development

Importance of Teacher Education and Training in Pakistan

Teacher’s education and knowledge is crucial and important in enhancing of student’s knowledge. All developed and less developed countries all over the world are trying to improve quality through capable educators with new techniques. Pakistan had to face such issues and now trying to create good environment for betterment in future, the quality depends upon the ability, knowledge, assessment and experience because we believe “Be the change you wish to see in the world”.

Current Challenges for Teachers in Pakistan

Teaching in Pakistan

Due to poor culture and system, Pakistan has to face different challenges such as lack of process and consistent leaning policies throughout the history. Unfortunately the nation has to face different categories such as Islamic, Public and Private. The network of private system is expanding day by day. Public institutions are the main source to produce best and quality educators but should review the delivery mechanism.

The role of NGOs/Educational Institutions/Training Centers

NGOs in Pakistan Education

NGOs are playing an important role to produce for this purpose all over the country. They are offering training centers and learning points to produce quality. The sitting government and media are supporting to NGOs/Donors which are producing trained schooling staff. In different decade’s reforms and innovations during education policies and environment, the Government of Pakistan has tried to develop such environment in form of Pre-Service programs with help of US-AID. These programs should be appreciated for improvement in society, however in all other areas it needs to take serious consideration and sustainability of new initiatives.

Steps need to be taken for Teacher's Education in Pakistan

v  The Public and Private institutions should make strong learning process by providing reference books and course outlines to faculty members. All institutions should provide training facilities to make strong system.

v  All institutions should expand the network of internet and computer skills to produce quality, so that they can learn and get training through videos and audios.

v  They should introduce new scientific techniques with help of IT department to produce quality to achieve upcoming goals.

v  All Public and Private Institutions should monitor and review the teacher’s ability and teaching approach/techniques/methods during class time on regular basis to improve accordingly.

v  The Higher Management of all institutions should have a review and monitor the instructions/process flow is being followed by all staff members to maintain the education policy standards.

v  It needs to have such collaborative environment/training centers of Public and Private institutions that staff members of all level can participate and get benefits from training seminars according to their skills(training schedule and participants should be declared monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis).

v  All faculty staff themselves should make strategies to educate students according to policy.

v  It needs to have good job opportunities so that they can perform well.

The Educators

All above issues and suggestions should be addressed during management meetings to have one education system all over the country, quality for students, improvement/ betterment in future.

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