Criticality of education

If societies and nations begin to accept moral lapses, it is a sign of gnawing decay of its values, principles, and standards. It is when the roots of honour of any society begin to weaken, the inevitable deformity of the trunk, stem and branches, becomes a sordid reality.

The acceptance of mediocrity or of less than the best indicates the general willingness of people to allow for the destructive forces of usurpation of rights for the development and presence of a merit based environment to take roots.

If you plan for a year, it is said, plant a seed. If for ten years, plant a tree. If for one hundred years, teach the people. When you sow a seed once, you will reap a single harvest.

When you teach people, you will reap a hundred years. This is an essence of Chinese thought dating back to BCE period. It comes hence as no surprise when Bertrand Russell in answer to the question what’s the best time to educate a child replied, at least a hundred years before he/she is born. Was Russell being facetious? Nay. He was highlighting the need to plan for education.

The education standards are on a downhill slope for well over three decades. It is essentially the policy of Nationalisation of schools and colleges that takes the brunt for this decline in the quality of education; however, it may be a significant feature but it is not the singular reason that is responsible for the current state of affairs. There are also several contributing factors.

The major ones are the sudden onset of this quest of acquiring material gains by the lot of “Teachers” and the other important factor is also the growing tendencies of absolute abdication of responsibility by the “Parents”, who take no interest in their off springs.

The selflessness that used to be the driving and motivating force amongst teachers is waning at lightning speed. The deep and keen interest parents took in the development of their children is slipping away into an abyss.

Earlier, parents besides seeking to have their off-springs placed in the best schools, took active interest in the behavioural development of the child so that the children emerge as socially responsible citizens; today, parents are contended with just putting the children in school, and not even in the right school. Their sense of responsibility towards children and the nation has taken nose-dive.

On the other hand, teachers cannot cease to learn. Their selflessness has to be akin to the spirit of the candle that consumes itself to give “light” to others.

We have a situation where there is general belief that almost 25 million children, who ought to be in school, are either sitting at home or are on the streets. This is a consequence of the scant importance we give to education sector.

According to the economic survey of Pakistan (2024-25) total public education expenditure plummeted to 0.8 percent of the GDP. The lowest allocation in the region. The highest allocation ever made was also a measly 2.3 percent.

The claim on literacy rate is anybody guess; wonder what the definition of literacy is applied when official statistics claim that literacy is at 60.6 percent; with a male literate population of 68 percent and females comprise 52.8 percent of that overall figure.

And, these numbers do not raise alarm. Norway and Luxembourg are two countries that spend the most on education. Even our neighbourhood spends/invests better in education.

Education institutions may be walled but inside it is the nursery that prepares for tomorrow. Education is that platform where one learns on how to perform on world stage, or even more appropriately on the stage of life. A prison of all sorts gets closed with the opening of a single school.

The decline is further accentuated by the endless continuation of the quota system. Its purpose of introduction was to allow for opportunity to rural areas to compete with urban areas.

In doing so, concessions were given to the rural students, nothing wrong with this premise of thought, but the entire edifice of this thought has crumbled due to massive corruption, real and intellectual.

The quality of output of the army of graduates is an embarrassment.

My banker brother was interviewing a young graduate for a management trainee position (the city’s name is deliberately not being disclosed here) who had a Masters in English literature from again a university, not being mentioned here. He was posed a question: who is your favourite author/writer from amongst the Classical writers’ era? The candidate stared back. A complete deadpan expression was looming upon his face.

Pointing towards his CV, he was asked, “You have a Masters in English literature, right?” His response: “Is that what’s written on the CV”! Shocked the panel gave him an option to choose the level of cheating in his examinations, from 0 percent to 100 percent. He was an absolutely “honest” bloke; sheepishly, he chose the highest end of the scale. Recently, in an interview, I asked the candidate holding a Bachelor’s degree in Law to recount all his subjects and of them which interested him the most.

The poor individual was at “pain” to even remember the subjects. Who should be blamed for this malaise: The parents; the teachers or the system? Even Cambridge had to recently withdraw its Mathematics paper because it got leaked out!!

The ownership of the educational institution is not the real issue. It can be State owned or be in the private sector. Both have examples of producing excellent quality of students on a very limited basis. The real problem is in the development of an education policy, which must conform to the challenging demands of the current times. Once agreed upon.

It is the implementation and adherence to the policy is the issue. The private missionary schools, who charged meagre fees, have produced for Pakistan the best individuals, who later on held important positions of authority.

The proliferation of schools, colleges, and universities in the private sector has added to our woes of not producing quality. It is a core principle of private enterprise to do business that doesn’t merely create profits but must have promise too of doubling it each year.

In this quest, quality is compromised. This observation is not to take away some of the brilliant material being produced by a few private sector universities across the country. However, the price structure has led them to become ‘elitist’ and hence admissions are difficult.

Again, to give a true perspective, there are several universities that give full scholarship to deserving students. No one is turned down admission, if they qualify on merit. But such institutions are far and few.

Recently, People’s Republic of China issued a strict advisory against uncontrolled growth of schools in the private sector; their view is based on fundamentals that education cannot be made hostage to “business models”.

The right to receive education is a fundamental right; it is not a privilege extended, but an obligation fulfilled with a sense of great duty of care towards the society/nation.

There is also an urgent need to look at the curriculum. Our antiquated systems and methods of teaching require radical change. Mathematics has to be made compulsory from KG to college.

The world has moved from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). We are struggling for direction! Under STEAM is added arts, design, humanities, innovation, etc.; it is to bring in creativity.

Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. “Education is the premise of progress in every society, every family.” (Kofi Annan). Confidence of a nation stems from its educational standards, and from confidence arises hope, and it is hope that permits the growth and presence of a society that imbibes peaceful coexistence.

Education lends great ability of tolerance. Education is humbling; it enforces jettisoning of any chips of arrogance.

The standard of education determines what our passport to future would look like. It must therefore prepare to meet the new dimensions of change and challenge.

Wars and battles are not won on the battlefield but in the halls and corridors of schools, colleges, and universities.

Tailpiece for all the educated in our blessed land: “Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or self-confidence” (Robert Frost). The readers are free to accept or alter the official figures of literacy against the backdrop of Robert Frost’s views.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026