The process of evolution of education system in Pakistan is interesting but it has its significant pitfalls. The child's psychology is important in developmental stages where the role of school environment and teachers play a great part. Any emotional injury at these tender stages can leave permanent and ugly scars on the psyche of a child.
In older days and even now to a great extent rot learning method is the way education is promoted. Some private, high fee charging schools have adopted the 'concept development model' without adequate success.
In one study, it was noted that sarcastic remarks and harsh language was used against students as a punitive strategy in order to humiliate the pupils. Even in some private schools in this era, teachers are found to be the perpetrators of this attitude. The law banning corporal punishments is still not fully implemented as there are reports of gross violations.
The school system in Pakistan is divided into four sectors: public schools, private schools, religious schools and pure madressah schools. The public sector schools in most cases are without any basic facilities, teachers are low paid and probably not well-trained. According to multiple press reports, physical, emotional and sexual abuse takes place very often. There is a high dropout rates from such schools. Some voluntary organisations have adopted a number of such schools in order to improve the situation. However, it is early to say whether these schools are producing the right breed of students that are progressing without any complex psychological issues.
The private schools range from medium to high fee categories. The high fee charging hi-fi schools claim to impart the best education with all the brain stimulating activities. They try to follow the western syllabus and methodology that involve concept building and polishing of thought processes. Ironically, the breed of such students still needs private tuitions and parental guidance. These children are given huge amounts of home work that is quite contrary to the western approach of education. I have noted that in Canadian system, there is more emphasis on creative thinking and conceptual learning. These students flow through the grades in school smoothly in their conducive environment and do well throughout until their university education.
Western system does have school bullying and drug abuse issues but schools in Pakistan are not immune to these social evils either. The religious schools are separate category where religious education is later on blended with general education. So far, there is no data or authentic report on the success of this education system. The madressah schools flourished well in the Zia-regime with significant proliferation. There was no effective method for registration of these schools and the curriculum is not screened or monitored. A number of terrorist activities is said to be allegedly associated with this school system. This school system needs effective monitoring and should be blended with the current education system through legislation.
With all these systems in vogue, there is quite confusion as to which system will address the deteriorating educational infrastructure in Pakistan in the most efficient way. The answer is complex. In the western world, education system is uniform throughout; the curriculum is monitored, reviewed and modified periodically and hence there is a reciprocal acceptance of their students in universities world-wide.
Our students undergo tremendous efforts in order to get proper placements in western world. According to 2009 reports, the literacy rate in Pakistan is 57% (males: 69% and females: 45%). Total 2% of GDP is allocated for education and a bill has been approved for 7% allocation. The other reports state that the literacy rate ranges from 87% in Islamabad to 20% in the Kohlu district. Between 2000-2004, Pakistanis in the age group 55-64 had a literacy rate of almost 30%, those aged between 45-54 had a literacy rate of nearly 40%, those between 25-34 had a literacy rate of 50%, and those aged 15-24 had a literacy rate of more than 60%.These data indicate that, with every passing generation, the literacy rate in Pakistan has risen by around 10%. Literacy rates vary regionally, particularly by sex. In tribal areas female literacy is 7.5%.
There are serious questions about the validity and reliability of these reports. Hence, these reports are viewed with skepticism. The big question is: Will our future generation be able to drive our nation in the right direction with the current state of education in Pakistan? It is a high time when efforts should be geared towards streamlining the educational system throughout Pakistan. There is a great need to address the current pitfalls in the curriculum. More practical education, promotion of concept building, better training of teachers, appointments of teachers with sound psychological mindedness, better incentives for teachers and provision of congenial educational environment are important features. There is a dire need to produce well-educated and psychologically balanced future generation in order for Pakistan to join the world on the fast-track of progress.
(The writer is a Professor of Psychiatry at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada.)