PMS 2020 Solved Pakistan Affairs Past Papers | Problems of Education System of Pakistan
The following question of PMS Pakistan Affairs 2020 is solved by Miss Iqra Ali, the best Pakistan Affairs Coach, on the guided pattern of Sir Syed Kazim Ali, which he taught to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory subjects for years. This solved past paper question is uploaded to help aspirants understand how to crack a topic or question, how to write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.
Question Breakdown
In the question’s first part, one has to explain the problems of the education system of Pakistan, along with recommendations to address them.
Outline
1-Introduction
2- A Cursory glance at Education System in Pakistan
3-Problems of Education System of Pakistan
- ✓Inadequate allocation of budget share to Education sector
- ✓Low enrollment rate, high dropout rate and low completion rate
- ✓Outdated Curriculum and Examination System
- ✓Quality and Training of Teachers’ issue
- ✓Competing schools, competing curriculum and conflict of medium of instructions
- ✓Sluggish attitude of Government towards national and international commitments
- ✓Political Appointments of University heads
4-Solutions to Deteriorating Education System of Pakistan
- ✓ Provide Adequate Finance to Education Institutions
- ✓ Harmonize all Curriculum and Standards
- ✓ Curriculum Reform: promoting critical and analytical thinking through education
- ✓ Reform Examination System
- ✓ Provide Merit-based Recruitment and Capacity Building of Teachers
5-Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
In Pakistan, any person who has the ability to read and write, along with carrying out simple calculations, is considered a literate, but this relaxed criteria cannot veil the dismal rate of literacy in the country. The reason for this poor performance is intertwined in the number of problems the education system of the country is confronting. For instance, the country’s education system is facing budgetary constraints as the state dedicates a meagre share from the budget to this vital component of human development. Additionally, the country’s outdated curriculum and exam system, along with poor quality of teachers, paints a grim picture of the country’s fundamental human development source. However, these daunting challenges can be overcome if the nation puts efforts in this critical sector. Increasing the budgetary share, harmonizing the curriculum, reforming the examination system, providing merit-based recruitment and capacity building of teachers are some prudent measures the country can adopt to reform the failing system of education and implement the strategic vision given by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah that says,
“Education is a matter of life and death for Pakistan. The world is progressing so rapidly that without requisite advance in education, not only shall we lag behind others but maybe wiped out altogether.”
A Cursory glance at Education system in Pakistan
At present, there is a total of 313,418 both public and private institutions, catering to 54 million students with the support of 2 million educators across all levels in the school education system in Pakistan according to Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE) report of 2021-22. These institutions, public and private, have access to three different curricula and examination systems: matriculation/intermediate, O- and A-levels and increasingly, though still on a small scale, the International Baccalaureate (IB) system. The whole system has been able to bring a literacy rate of 62.8% so far now, which is quite discouraging when compared to other developing countries. Moreover, Pakistan also entertains world’s third highest number of out of school children (OOSC) that are 26 million. The current performance presents a grim picture of Pakistan’s overall education system.
Problems of Education System of Pakistan
- Inadequate allocation to Education sector
Successive governments in the country have dealt the education system no less than a stepchild. The country’s allocation of budget share to education sector has remained mostly under 2%, which is less than the UNESCO’s recommended 4-6%. This limits education system to develop and prosper in the country.
- Low enrollment rate, high dropout rate and low completion rate
The country’s education system is facing low enrollment rates and high drop-out rates due to the lack of teachers’ commitment, teachers’ absenteeism, unattractive school environment, and harsh treatment of students by teachers, including physical punishments. As a result, the enrollment rate keeps on dropping and drop-out rate keeps on mounting, pushing country’s education system in shambles.
- Outdated Curriculum and Examination System
The curriculum in Pakistan is criticized for being outdated as it fails to prepare the youth for the challenges of the 21st century. The curriculum, along with examination system, focuses heavily on rote memorization, which thwarts critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the students. As a result, Pakistan is far behind other nations that are cashing in their knowledge inputs for innovation and development.
- Quality and Training of Teachers’ Issue
In Pakistan, the quality of teachers also contribute to the poor education system as many educators lack proper qualifications or are not equipped adequately with the skills to engage students and deliver quality education. Additionally, the dearth of teacher training institutes leads to a lack of skilled teachers in the educational institutions that affect the quality of education delivery.
- Competing schools, competing curriculum and conflict of medium of instructions
The country’s schools are divided into public schools and private schools. Moreover, the curriculum is divided into board system, Cambridge system and Dars-e-Nizami. Additionally, the medium of instruction is also not uniform; some schools have English as a medium of instruction while others have Urdu as a medium of exchange. In short, the education system of the country replicates the societal divide between different sections of society. As a result, there is a big intellectual gap between an individual who has passed out from public schools with a board system and students of private schools from a Cambridge system background.
- Sluggish attitude of Government towards national and international commitments
The state of Pakistan is also possessing a sluggish response towards its national commitments, like Article 25 (a) of the 1973 Constitution that gives the right to free and compulsory education for children aged 5-16, and international commitments, like in the SDG goals. Due to the passive role of the state in education system, it has not been able to revitalize itself.
- Political Appointments of University Heads
The higher education institutions are also facing challenges relating to governance. Most higher education institutions are having politically motivated appointments in the top tier of their leadership. As a result, the quality of education and research in these institutions seriously suffers.
Solutions to Deteriorating Education System of Pakistan
- Provide Adequate Finance to Education Institutions
There is a strong need to increase the share of the education sector in the national budget up to 4% of GDP. In this regard, the effort of the current government in the form of an Education Emergency Plan is a good gesture that aims to increase the share of education up to 4% of GDP.
- Harmonize all Curriculum and Standards
The country needs to prepare a curriculum that is uniform throughout the country, both in public and private schools. It should ensure that the new curriculum has quality to meet the changing world needs, and also that there are instructors capable to deliver it to students in both public and private schools. Moreover, mainstreaming madrassahs is the need of the hour. Introducing contemporary subjects in their curricula will help in their mainstreaming, recognition, and equivalence of graduates from religious seminaries to the graduates of other education institutions.
- Curriculum Reform: promoting critical and analytical thinking through education
Keeping in view of the changing needs of the 21st century, the state needs to revise and update the current curriculum to promote creative learning, critical thinking and analytical thinking skills in the youth. It should be more activity-based learning rather than the traditional static teacher-centric learning.
- Reform Examination System
In order to achieve the objectives envisaged in curriculum, the paper setters need to devise a paper that avoids assessing only the memory of students and ability to reproduce the book content on paper. The paper should be made to assess the comprehended skills and problem-solving skills of individuals, along with assessing the information acquired.
- Provide Merit-based Recruitment and Capacity Building of Teachers
There should be a merit-based recruitment of teachers to attract those who have the relevant qualifications and expertise in the teaching field. It should be based on academic excellence and a focus on aptitude and motivation of teachers. Additionally, all teachers should get opportunities for professional development to contribute effectively to deliver quality education to students.
Conclusion
An effective education system is an integral component of a state’s prosperity, and development in modern world. However, education system of Pakistan is marred with various challenges, such as low financing, outdated curriculum, examination based on rote-memorization, and poor quality of teachers. Nonetheless, these problems can be addressed by adopting some practical measures, such as providing adequate financing to the education sector, capacity building of teachers, reforming curriculum, and harmonizing curriculum across the country.
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