Allah Nawaz Khan
Education plays a vital role in the development of any nation. In the past, education was important, and in the present its importance has increased even more. Nations that have achieved development understood the importance of education and gave special emphasis to acquiring it. Educated societies are making various kinds of innovations. Because of knowledge, plans are being made to establish settlements on other planets. No nation whose first priority is knowledge can be stopped from becoming developed.
Islam also strongly emphasizes the acquisition of education. According to a Hadith, “Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim” (Ibn Majah). In Islam, the pursuit of knowledge is made essential. After the Battle of Badr, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ordered educated non-Muslim prisoners of war to teach literacy to ten Muslim children each, and this education was considered their ransom.
According to Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan, providing free and compulsory education to children aged 5 to 16 is the responsibility of the state. Unfortunately, the education system in Pakistan has been continuously neglected. To improve the education system, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Shehbaz Sharif, announced an educational emergency two years ago. This announcement was made in April 2024, and a notification was also issued on 7 May 2024. According to the announcement, the education budget was to be increased from 0.5% to 5%. At that time, reports indicated that around 26 million children were out of school and of school-going age. Now the number may have increased.Regrettably, the educational emergency was not implemented. In fact, it can be said that the quality of education has further deteriorated. Policies were made that severely damaged the education system.Neither were children enrolled in schools nor was the budget increased. Facilities were also reduced, even though they were already very limited. Among children studying in schools, most are unable to receive quality education.
The education system is extremely outdated. The rote learning system is still in place, which is highly harmful for students. Instead of focusing on learning, emphasis is placed on how to score higher marks. The education being provided in Pakistani schools is insufficient for development. Students should be given education that enables them to compete in the modern world.Pakistan has a dual education system, which has many disadvantages. On one side there are government schools, and on the other private institutions. The education provided in private institutions is far better than in public schools. Students from private institutions easily get jobs, whereas those from government schools struggle to find employment.Another issue is the lack of teacher training and shortage of teachers. Reports of ghost schools have also been received. The examination system also has many flaws and is extremely outdated. Compared to cities, education in rural areas is far behind, especially for girls, who get very limited access to education.
Many schools, particularly in rural areas, lack basic facilities such as electricity, water, toilets, classrooms, furniture, and other essentials. Population is increasing, but educational institutions are insufficient, especially universities for higher education. More schools, colleges, and universities should be established so that more Pakistanis can get education.
Although an educational emergency was declared two years ago, it remained only an announcement. Now, if it is declared again, it must not remain only on paper; implementation must be ensured. The education budget should be increased immediately. More teachers should be recruited and provided modern training. Educational institutions should be equipped with modern laboratories.
Improving the quality of education should be a priority so that Pakistani students can play an effective role in national development. The dual education system is harmful for the country; a uniform education system should be implemented. Many schools are being privatized, but privatization is not the solution—state support is essential. If privatization is necessary, it must not compromise educational standards.
Millions of children are out of school, and a campaign should be launched to enroll them. Poverty also prevents parents from sending their children to school. If education is completely free, poor parents will also be able to send their children to school. Child labor is another major obstacle, and awareness should be raised among parents that an educated child will be more beneficial for the family in the future.
Another major issue is that religious seminaries (madrasas) mostly provide only religious education, while modern education is neglected. A system should be introduced in madrasas where both religious and modern education can be provided. Education in madrasas is mostly free, including accommodation, food, and other facilities, so their system is already strong and can be further improved by including modern education.
It is a tragedy that Pakistan’s education system is declining. There is still time to improve it; otherwise, many serious problems will arise in the future. Immediate implementation of the educational emergency is necessary. The importance of education must never be ignored.
