What is Education System?
All institutions that provide formal education—public and private, for-profit and nonprofit, onsite or online instruction—as well as their faculties, students, physical infrastructure, resources, and rules are included in the education system. The system also includes the institutions that are directly involved in financing, managing, operating, or regulating such institutions (like central testing organizations, textbook boards, and accreditation boards, as well as government ministries and regulatory bodies). The educational system also includes guidelines that direct both individual and institutional interactions within the framework.
Education system of Pakistan:
With the assistance of 1,535,461 teachers, Pakistan's education system serves 41,018,384 students across 260,903 institutions. The system includes 80,057 private and 180,846 public institutions. As a result, while 69% of educational institutions are public, 31% are run by private companies.
The education system in Pakistan is no doubt very different and complicated. The structure is divided into three divisions; Primary, Secondary, and Higher education. First of all, Primary education starts from the age of 3 or 4 and goes up to the middle of 10th grade. This age is considered basic education. It is called Basic because it is the foundation of one’s life.
What’s wrong with the education system in Pakistan?
Education is the essence of a nation. It has a significant impact on a nation's growth. A developed country is one that has established a well-organized and planned education system. Besides Education is an integral part of any society and it is the right of every citizen to get a quality education. But the scenario in Pakistan is quite opposite to it. It is mismanaged which makes the purpose of institutions counterproductive.
Pakistan's education system has been divided into three main categories. Firstly, there are English medium schools that are highly prioritized. The Urdu medium schools come next and then there are the Madrassas (religious schools). This classification has destroyed the equal distribution of quality education among the masses. The Urdu medium students remain out of mainstream society because they don’t have command over the international language, English. Similarly, the madrasa graduates remain out of jobs as they lack technical skills.
Private and public educational establishments constitute an additional division. These two categories are vastly different from one another. The staff, infrastructure, fee, uniform, teaching method, and staff are all very different. These days, Private schools are especially prioritized. The good thing is, Government colleges and universities are still important and there is no discrimination there.
Additionally, another major issue in the educational system is the illegally high tuition. Private institutions charge exorbitantly high fees. They even charge expenses when the school is off after the last, most important tests for quite some time.
The most crucial component of any educational system is its staff. If they are not fully trained and competent, the quality of education will suffer. Unfortunately, that is what has been happening in Pakistan for quite some time now. The problem is very much common in private institutions that charge high fees. Ironically, in such institutions, it is easier to find better buildings than highly qualified teachers.
Conclusion:
Currently, Pakistan is at a juncture where the whole nation needs to fight against this chronic issue. The biggest challenge has been that in Pakistan education is considered a “luxury” a “treat” or even just a status symbol. It doesn’t need any promotion to anyone. Everyone thinks it’s only for the rich and only for those who can afford it. This is one of the biggest problems we face and we need to do everything possible to change that perception.
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