HIGHER education is incredible and very important for any nation to develop. Higher education shapes the nation. Destiny of any nation is shaped into classrooms. Higher education in Pakistan has always been a challenge. Pakistan has always been ravenous for higher education. The youth believe that only education can change a country’s destiny, however, the glass is still empty. Higher education in Pakistan is fettered in copious ills.
The rising ills of higher education in Pakistan include the rising cost of education. Education has become a business in Pakistan. Educational institutions frequently raise the cost of education which has created the obstacle for poor and middle class people to provide higher education to their children. Rising inflation had already pushed middle class people into the poverty line. People are unable to pay high fees for education which results in an increasing illiteracy rate.
Furthermore, growing privatization of public universities also creates hurdles to get higher education. Privatisation of public universities creates several problems such as high cost education. Parents are unable to sponsor their child in the private sector, even public sector because of their economic situation. In these scenarios, privatisation of public sector universities is equivalent to adding insult to injury. Public universities are approaching private sources for funding. In consequence universities began to fund themselves through student tuition and other business interests.
Obsolete and outdated curricula are also the main problem of higher education in Pakistan. Public sector universities in Pakistan are still following the outdated methods of teaching which could not produce fruitful results. In top ranking universities of Pakistan, still the same method of delivering lectures on board is followed. Whereas universities like Harvard, oxford are applying new methods of involving students in problem solving case studies. Therefore, Benjamin Franklin said, tell me, I forgot. Teach me, I remember. Involve me, I learn.
Moreover, another obstacle for higher education in Pakistan is inadequate teaching faculty. Professors are appointed through political interference in universities. Pakistan is facing shortage of PhD holders, according to Higher Education Commission, due to which there is lack of adequate faculties in public sector universities. Public sector universities common professors and lecturers are appointed merely on graduations and neither they possess master degrees nor have done any research. In consequence our higher education becomes ineffective and universities are not producing competent students.
Furthermore, students have been compelled to focus on marks in exams rather than on innovation. In universities, the grading system is promoted, due to which students are not able to become innovative and creative. Even in our neighbour, India, they’re working on innovative and creative education in Indian universities, and in result their students are inventing robots and other scientific equipment and are leading in technology.
Despite all these hurdles there is a hope of betterment in higher education in Pakistan. Universities have to adopt the practical approach of making education cost effective. Government must provide assistance to public sector universities in this regard. If there will be cost effective education, common people will be able to provide quality education to their children in this high inflation time. This will not only be limited to providing education but also will produce creative and innovative students. Moreover, focus must be on the new and effective methods of teaching in universities which can involve these students in case studies and research. It will make students creative and similarly higher education in Pakistan will be effective.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Karachi.
Email: [email protected]
views expressed are writer’s own.
