Deteriorating standard of education in Pakistan
Governments have badly stifled the growth of education
Islamabad, Oct 7: The deteriorating standard of education in Pakistan is cause enough to
make any sensible countryman sweat with worry. The misplaced priorities
of successive governments have badly stifled the growth of education.
Admittedly, the present day edifice that includes both primary and
higher education is in a shambles. Although the Salam Teachers Day
was celebrated around the country with much fanfare, the plight of the
teachers' community beggars description. Except for a few elite centres
of education in our urban areas, it would be safe to say that the
professionals in the field, from schools to universities, represent
mediocrity. The meagre amount of funds for the sector is one of the
major causes of the decline. The best brains in the profession keep on
fleeing abroad in pursuit of greener pastures. Consequently, those with
bare minimum skills and knowledge are left to run the show. Hardly
do we seem to realize the fact that providing cheap education to all is
one of the primary obligations of a state. In the developed world,
education is the preserve of the state. In USA for example, education
till the 12th grade is free. These nations indeed are aware of the role
a sound education system can play in their overall development and
progress. Our ruling elite on the contrary has put the issue on the
backburner. While no Pakistani university is included in the 500 top
universities of the world, a parallel system of education at home has
greatly deepened class divisions. The private sector, with skyrocketing
fee structure and a seminary network, has stepped in to fill the void
created by the state. Bothered by this dismal picture Chief Justice
Iftikhar Chaudhry has called for preventing the system from further
chaos. He got it right when he touched on the issue of low salaries of
teachers. It is no doubt heartening that the CJ has championed this
cause. The executive, however, would have to think deep over its
criminal neglect of a most basic duty.
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"education create sensible and marvellous personolities in the world as well subcontnent has given those pioneers who has not only leading the nations in trouble but save the nations from ails which were unimagine and unsolved remained for hundred year like kaid azam,allam iqbal and a very srong minded and having remarkable weighing on the culture and society sir syed ahmed khan who gave the lives to both nation muslim and hindu through ali garah movrmrnt ,but very unfortunately currently pakistani education is not at standard as it should its all about the formatio and noxious policy maker of education in country copy culture has sabotaged the entire efforts of experts in education,finding the way of tackling this indispensible way regime should go throug the level of candidates an areas how to make amendments in syllabus according to new inverntion as antiqute candidates were mostly looking for doctor and engneer only an today how they are going to business side rapidly. so get the survey of education and its standard that how and what kind of education is required for present and coming generation"
Name: ghulam nabi soomro
Email: ghulamnabi.soomro@gmail.com
City, Country: shikarpur, pakistan
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Review on National Science & Technology Policy after 25 years
Islamabad: After a long period of 25 years, the Ministry of Science
and Technology has woken up to review the National Science &
Technology Policy 1984, which failed to achieve its objectives. Unfortunately,
the implementation of the policy and the National Technology Policy and
Action Plan 1993 was hampered by financial constraints, so their
enunciated objectives could not be fully achieved. At present,
Pakistan ranks low on the Human Development Index (HDI), ranking at 136
out of 177 countries, because of its poor social indicators. It also
has a weak S & T image based on various S & T indicators such
as the number of international research publications, number of
researchers per million population, research and development
expenditure as percentage of GDP, patents etc. Though the consultations
from the stakeholders are in initial stage, the ministry has prepared a
rough draft and set out some objectives for the promotion of science
and technology in the country. It has been learnt that special
emphasis will be given to the close and productive interaction among
academia, research and development institutions and industrial sector.
Pakistan today has 84 major research organisations with over 239
laboratories, research centres and stations as well as 122
universities. In the new policy, the establishment of Advisory Council
for Science and Technology with the Federal Minister for Science and
Technology as its president has been recommended to provide independent
advice to the government on science and technology programmes and
policies for informed decision-making. The draft underscore the need to set up Departments of Science and
Technology in each province to serve as the focal points for
coordination with the Federal government in the implementation of the
policies and programmes approved by the National Commission for Science
and Technology. The adoption of a performance based service
structure and pay scales for the organisations under the ministry have
been recommended. The proposed system, which is designed along the
lines of the Tenure Track System of the public sector universities,
permits accelerated promotions based on performance rather than
seniority-cum-fitness, upgradation of posts to avoid frustration of
younger scientists due to lack of promotions. Emphasising the
scientific and technical education at the school level, the policy says
a programme should be started by the Ministry of Education together
with the provincial education departments for providing adequately
equipped science laboratories in every high school. And for the
activity it has been suggested that the budget of Pakistan Science
Foundation for supplying laboratory equipment to schools in rural areas
needs to be increased. The nation
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SHRDC for enhanced spending on demand-driven education
Islamabad: Pakistan was taking great interest in strengthening,
designing, financing, monitoring and evaluating vocational educational
and skill development system to provide trained workforce to local and
foreign industries in an era of modern technology. Speaking
at the concluding session of a two-day workshop on "Assessing the Needs
for Vocational Education and Skill Development," organised by Saarc
Human Resource Development Centre in Islamabad on Tuesday, the Chairman
of National Vocational and Technical Education Commission (Navtec)
Adnan A. Khawaja said that vocational education and skill development
should play crucial role in improving the existing prosperity level in
South Asia. In the entire South Asian region, the governments
were the main providers of vocational education and skill development
both at school level and also outside the school system. The private
sector should significantly enhance its role in vocational
education and skill development, he stressed.
Mr Khawaja said that although the Saarc states achieved considerable
economic growth rate in the last few decades but still a lot needs to
be done for poverty reduction in the region. Speaking on the
major challenges the States face, the Navtec Chairman said that the key
economic challenges for the majority of the South Asian countries
include high unemployment rate, large informal sector, high population
growth, low comparative remittances and low human indicators. Hence,
concerted efforts are needed to develop knowledge and skill through
technical and vocational education and training (TVET), he remarked.
Similarly, the Navtec Chairman was of the opinion, that TVET challenges
faced by Saarc region include supply-oriented rather than demand-driven
TVET, unskilled and informally skilled workforce, ineffective industry
training linkages, out-dated skills standards, inadequate participation
of private sector, shortage of financial resources, defective national
qualifications framework, review and updating existing TVET laws and
regulations. Dawn
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Expo on environment attracted students
Islamabad: The international expo on environment titled "The Earth's
Future in Our Hands" attracted large crowds of students, as more than
2,000 students from different public and private sectors schools and
colleges of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad visited the
exhibition during the last two days. Pakistan Science Foundation
(PSF), Ministry of Science and Technology in collaboration with Federal
Directorate of Education, Embassy of France in Islamabad and
Scientific, Technical, Industrial and Cultural Centre, France organised
the expo at Islamabad Model College for Girls, F-7/4. The exhibition
will continue in Islamabad till October 16. The expo is a part
of PSF science promotion activities and celebration of National Year of
Environment 2009. It is aimed at raising students' awareness of the
urgency to act if we are to save our earth for our future generations.
It offers solutions to problems as proposed by the scientists. The
exhibition is structured around three major themes including Living
with Our Environment, Tomorrow's Consumption and Production and
Responsible Sharing of Resources, said PSF Chairman Dr Syed Azhar Hasan
in a statement. The exhibition, which has already traveled to a
number of countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America, will
also be held in Abbottabad, Sukkur and Multan, said Dr Hasan. He
said "The Earth's Future on Our Hands" not only targeted children and
youth between 12 to 20 years age group but also their parents and
teachers. PSF has designated alternate days for the boys and
girl schools so that the students could make maximum use of this
opportunity in a peaceful and secure atmosphere.
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Lecture on 'Gender Equality' held at FJWU
Rawalpindi: A lecture on gender equality was arranged by Fatima Jinnah
Women University (FJWU) Rawalpindi at its premises on Tuesday. Rizwana
Waraich, senior gender coordinator at Earthquake Reconstruction and
Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA), was the guest speaker on the occasion.
Farzana Akhtar, FJWU assistant registrar, conducted the proceedings. Waraich
briefed the audiences about the gender equality initiatives taken by
ERRA in the earthquake-affected areas. She said a gender policy was
developed for women, men, girls, and boys in the wake of October 2005
earthquake. She said a number of projects, based on the
issues, trends and needs of different population groups with special
focus on women and girls, had been started leading to improved living
conditions and equitable social and economic opportunities for affected
populations. Different strategies and follow-up actions,
required to address the issues emerging at different levels, had been
adopted in order to increase ERRA's effectiveness in addressing gender
dimensions in the context of reconstruction and rehabilitation, she
said. A university souvenir was presented to the speaker as a
token of appreciation by Dr Rukhsana Hasan, incharge of Department of
Gender Studies at FJWU, at the closing of the programme. Daily times
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