It is a common observation that even in present times approach of many people is that girls need not to attend private schools as fee structure of these schools is high and in most households girls are enrolled in government schools while their brothers are sent to private institutions. Even in rural areas many girls are not sent to schools at all as it is considered that they need not to be educated. World economy today is knowledge based economy. If we want to achieve this target then we will have to change society’s stereotypical mindset and will have to introduce education as a culture.
Still there are many systems of education prevalent in our country.
A uniform educational system with same curriculum throughout the country is very essential to abolish the discrimination between rural and urban areas.
It is also required that social sector assists the government in its efforts to introduce reforms in the education system and also it is important that education professionals are given incentives to enhance their productivity. In order to reduce the drop out rate from school which is unfortunately very high in case of Pakistan (22.8 million children aged 5-16 are out of school) the infrastructure has to be developed in the schools.
The authorities should take strict action against those private schools which are established on very small plots. A particular area should be earmarked as a standard for opening a school because the young kids do need healthy sports activities and there must be a playground.
Analytical thinking and and practical skills should be emphasized more in the curriculum to increase the reasoning ability in the students for conceptual learning and for developing their thinking faculties. Organized training of the teachers should be arranged where teachers are trained how to use modern technology, digital platforms, online material and e-learning. Use of modern teaching methods will help in increasing interest for the students and make them get away with academic stress. If we do not make our students skilled in use of IT, they will not be able to catch up pace with the world. Pakistan has failed to produce world class scientists because intellectual artistry is not given importance. Research should be promoted. Pakistani students who are high achievers in education worldwide should be promoted in media so as to serve as inspiration for other students.
Mostly students do not know about career options as for instance, data scientist, cosmologist, space scientist, graphic designer, meteorologist. There is no denying the fact that Pakistani students are very talented but they must be guided properly and their energies need to be channelized in right path.
In Pakistan it is often assumed that achievement is based on competition. More focus should be on learning not on competition. Supposedly a student is unable to get through the exam with flying colors, what maximum will happen? Heavens will not fall down and the world will not come to an end”.
Unfortunately many parents of today remind their kids frequently that they will have to get more than 90 percent marks which is a wrong approach. The efforts must be on making their kids a constructive citizen of the society who develop in them the qualities of compassion, kindness and a service to humanity and not enter in the mad race of cut throat competition with the mindset to achieve success by hook or by crook.
“Grading system is generally based on competition which puts an unnecessary pressure on the students. As a result qualities like being clear headed or being decisive remain neglected and when such students enter the practical life, they are unable to face the intricacies. The unnecessary pressure caused by an unhealthy competition to get more marks also makes a student just remain limited to the books and he cannot develop acumen in learning skills how to avoid interpersonal conflicts and develop social agree ability and acceptance.
Too much entertainment has led to make students pay less attention to studies. According to a report the teens in Pakistan spend 7 to 8 hours daily on internet. Because of this, attention span of the students towards studies has also reduced.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Lahore.
