The Pakistani Constitution has had point that all children between the ages of 5 and 16 will have free and compulsory education and that adult literacy must be improved.
From the very beginning of Pakistan in 1947, we have always considered education as the primary goal of our policies because only education can change the fortune of our beloved country. However, unfortunately, among most of our threats, the quality of education in Pakistan is one of them. But how can we change the current educational policy of Pakistan?
Education System In Pakistan (Urdu)
The current literacy statistics of Pakistan in 2022:
As of January 2022, Pakistan plans to raise literacy status by educating the number of students in different classes and ages. Government plans to lift literacy from 58% to 70% in four years and will give access to 22.8 million students. Referring to the Ministry of Federal Education Professional training, the current literacy rate is 62.3, which means that a projected population of 60 million is illiterate in the country.
What Is Meant by the Education System?
The education system includes all institutions that offer formal education (public and private, for-profit and nonprofit, or virtual training), as well as its teachers, students, physical infrastructure, resources, and standards.
In a broader sense, the system includes institutions that are actively involved in the funding, management, operation, or regulation of institutions such as government ministries, regulatory agencies, central testing organizations, and textbook boards).
The norms and regulations that regulate individual and institutional interactions within the framework are also a part of Pakistan’s educational system.
An Examination Of the Pakistani Education System
Pakistan has stated its commitment to promoting education and literacy in the country through domestic education policy and participation in international education initiatives.
In this context, national education policies are visions that propose solutions to boost literacy rates, expand capacity, and improve facilities in schools and educational institutions.
Challenges to Education System in Pakistan
The challenges lead to a better knowledge of the issues that have arisen in the growth of the educational system and the promotion of literacy. The paper outlines seven key issues, which are as follows:
Inadequate Planning:
Pakistan is a participant in the MDGs and EFA targets. However, it appears that it will be unable to meet these international obligations due to financial management challenges and impediments to achieving its targets.
Social constraints:
It is critical to recognize that the problems that impede providing education are not just the result of administration issues by the government but that some of them are firmly grounded in the people’s social and cultural orientation. Overcoming the latter is tough and will need a shift in people’s attitudes; until then, comprehensive primary education will be hard to reach.
Gender gap:
Next comes the gender gap. Poverty, cultural barriers, and potential illiteracy are one way, but families that are concerned about their girl’s safety are major issues that lead to the lower enrollment of girls compared to boys. Another issue is early marriages of girls; mobility and the social mindset of families limit the enrollment of girls in schools and colleges.
The enrollment of rural females is 45 percent lower than that of urban girls, whereas the difference for boys is just 10 percent, indicating that the gender gap is a significant factor.
Cost of education:
The economic cost of education is greater in private schools, although they are only found in more affluent areas. The paradox is that while private schools are better than government schools, they are not available everywhere. In contrast, public schools give fair access but do not deliver excellent education.
