Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space. They are published in good faith with a view to enlightening all the stakeholders. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
Fragile curriculum
For last many decades to attain quality education in Sindh has become a nightmare. The educational standard has been greatly depleted by obsolete syllabus along with language conundrum. What could possibly be future of education in Sindh? For instance, it has been 50 years when curriculum was revised and updated, as syllabus of Sindh Textbook Board, Jamshoro, designed for intermediate level is neither viable for students to learn nor for teachers to teach.
When I was a student and found books, in particular mathematics and physics, so obscure and confusing owing to less-detailed topics. There are no accurate definitions of topics nor they are illustrated with images and examples. How students will face this archaic syllabus when teachers themselves don’t know without recourse to guidance from external means. When students reach intermediate level, as a result of language change they find themselves unfamiliar with English-syllabus and just cram the whole course that halts their intellectual-growth and productivity.
TAHIR JAMALI
Nawabshah, Sindh
Air pollution
In a populous and industrialised city like Karachi where air is affected by toxic fumes of factories and mills due to which many diseases are commonly encountered by people that affects climate of our environment as well as our health.
I live in Safora Chowrangi where an uncle lives in front of my house and he burns garbage in the ground, which is right next to my house because of this, its difficult for us to breathe. Our neighbours have also complained because there are small children and elderly people in their houses for whom this smoke proves to be quite harmful and dangerous. Due to lack of administration, no one could stop them. I want the administration to inform people that garbage should not be burnt in streets and fields where people live nearby. The garbage collection vehicles of the government will take away the waste itself and burn it at a place where no one will be harmed by the harmful smoke.
FIZA SIKANDAR
Karachi
Mobile addiction
The modern technology has certainly made our lives substantially convenient, but the fact that it has been the cause of much distress in our society can’t be ignored. Nowadays everyone, ranging from children to elderly, seems to be dependent on their mobile phones. Increased use of mobiles has led to aggravated social and psychological problems. Young children get distracted while they work. These children grow up obsessed with mobiles as they seek solace and amity in a virtually created world. Excessive use of mobile phones and social media amongst teenagers has led to intensified psychological issues such as anger, stress, depression and anxiety. Comparing oneself with people online triggers negative behaviours like envy, low self-esteem, dejection and insecurity. Our first instinct in any situation is to take out our phone. On events, everyone tries to capture the moments in their mobile cameras instead of actually savouring the ambience. People tend to care more about updating their ostensible friends and followers than socialising with folks around. In case of a mishap, everyone takes out their cameras to record the scene rather than helping victims. Intemperate use of mobile phone appears to be provoking deterioration of our moral values. Technological advancement has shortened the stretches between areas around the globe and yet ironically it has lengthened distance between people living in the same house. Family members seem to become more and more detached. People seldom sit together to talk or discuss matters. Everyone is confined to their own space with their mobiles. It’s high time we assessed ourselves as individuals and as a society. We must understand our role in society and our responsibilities towards the people around us. Immoderate use of mobiles should be restricted. People should practice self-control and opt for professional help if needed.
ARFAE IMTISAAL KHAN
Lahore
Box letter
High prices of essential commodities hrough columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw government attention towards steep rise in prices of essential items of daily use. Inflation in our country has gone sky high and if it goes unnoticed, life of a common man would soon become a nightmare. The prices of household items such as grains, pulses, cereals, cooking oil, spices, sugar, milk, vegetables, and other essential items have crossed all previous records. As a result of this, a massive price hike has struck underprivileged and lower-middle class people harder (which cover more than 50% of our population). Nowadays, it has become unbearable for people to afford even their basic needs. The salaried class person also finds it difficult to manage their finance within their salaries because food, fuel, and electricity are recorded at their highest level since independence. People living in rural areas and those earning daily wages are considered to be the most affected. The major reason for all this inflation is our depleting foreign exchange reserves which caused devaluation of rupee, as a result, government has curtailed the import bill, however, the import of all basic household items also halted. Government should take all necessary steps in order to control inflation and take administrative steps to prevent people for doing hoarding, black marketing, and profiteering essential items which creates instability and an artificial rise in the prices. It is high time that concerned authorities should take immediate notice of this problem and save the people of our society.
KINZA GHAFFAR
Karachi
