Education system of Pakistan

“Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.” –George

Washington Carver
We all know the importance of education. It is the most important aspect
of any nation’s survival in the modern day world. Education determines
the future of a nation. So that’s why we have to adopt our education
policies very carefully because our future depends on these policies.
Islam also emphasizes on education and its importance but I think in
our country we truly are at loss. Our politicians and bureaucrats have
not been able to figure out our education system. Neither our schools
nor our madrassas (Islamic education centers) are educating our youth
in this regard. In the institutions that are supposed to polish them into
scholars for east and west, they are being provided with degrees that
only help them develop into “money machines”. We are only burdening
our children with heavy books and enrolling them into reputed, big
schools for what that put a financial stamp on the child, that he could
afford an education here, just for the upheaval of social status?
On the other hand, in our madrassas we are preparing people who can
never adjust in the modern society. The education provided in
madrassas is not compatible to the modern day requirements. It is an
unfair race, a madrassa student’s starting line and finishing line is more
apart than the other students. It is crystal clear that Islamic education is
necessary for Muslims but it is also a fact that without modern education
no one can compete in this world. There are many examples of Muslim
scholars who not only studied the Holy Quran but also mastered other
subjects like physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy and many more,
with the help of Holy Quran.
I think with the current education system we are narrowing the way for
our children instead of widening it. There is no doubt that our children
are very talented, both in schools and in madrassas, we just need to
give them proper guidance to groom and mentor them, give them the
space to become useful. The education system we are running with is
not working anymore. We have to find a way to bridge this gap between
school and madrassa. Robert Maynard Hutchins described it: “The
object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves
throughout their lives.”
Sadly, in Pakistan our defense budget has always been exponentially
more than our educational budget. Edward Everett said, “Education is
a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army.” The wars have been
won by knowledge and technology through pen and paper, wars are
never won by weapons. Since 1947 not a single government has been
able to change this scenario. For the price of one grenade, almost 20
to 30 children can go to school for a whole year. With all the brains in
the world, why haven’t we opted for peace and pen?
It’s hopeless when it comes to the policy makers of Pakistan. Every year
policy for education is reviewed by the government but the results are
same: The illiteracy rate keeps rising in Pakistan, according to a recent
survey. “Nai Roshni School” or “Parha Likha Punjab” can never make a
difference. The future of our country depends on how we choose to
educate our children. It’s high time we focus all our energies on that;
otherwise, it’s going to be too late for Pakistan.