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Status of Education at the time of Independence

Development of Education in Pre-Pakistan Period
Progress of education in the period;
▫ from 1947 to 1958
▫ from 1959 to 1971
▫ from 1972 to date
Main reforms through educational policies
Major constraints in achieving the educational aims
 Appreciate the efforts of the policy makers and
planners in education

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Pre-Partition Period
• Domination of Islamic education in subcontinent
before British introduce system of education.
• Characteristics of Islamic education
• Free education
• Large scale education
• High status of teacher
• No boundaries age limit

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Introduction of British Education inSubcontinent

Focus on English and modern fields of education

 Underlying purpose by Lord Mikale to produce such
individuals who are Indian by race and color and
English by thinking. Which means to produce Babu
class, clerks, superintendent, supervisors, etc. that will
be used as support to run the British government in
subcontinent by helping in developing interaction and
communication with Britishers and local people.

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Period from 1947 to 1958
At the time of establishment of Pakistan we had
two universities out of 21, 83 colleges, 3 engineering
colleges, 108 teachers training schools, 39000 primary
schools, 9000 secondary schools.
• First education conference was held in 1947 to
streamline and direct the system of education in
newly born country

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Period from 1947 to 1958
Minister of education Fazal ur Rehman Recommendations:
▫ The educational system should be inspired by the Islamic
ideology, emphasizing among many of its characteristics
those of universal brother hood, tolerance and justice.
▫ Free and compulsory education should be introduced for
a period of five years which should be gradually raised to
eight years. ▫ Primary schools could be co-educational or
otherwise according to local needs.
▫ A comprehensive scheme should be prepared fro the
reorganization of technical education suited to the
economic needs of the country and the peculiar genius of
our people.

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Period from 1947 to 1958
Poor infrastructure
 Lot of problems and issues
 Immigration of a large part of population from
India to Pakistan
 Security issues

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Period from 1959 to 1971
This period introduce the most comprehensive report
on for re-organizing and restructuring the then
education system. The purpose was to establish a
national education system which would better reflect
our spiritual / moral and cultural values as well as
compete with the international standards.

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Period from 1959 to 1971
The aims and objectives :
To meet the individual and collective needs
and aspiration of the people.
Development of vocational abilities and
training for leadership.
Preservation of the ideals which led to the
creation of Pakistan.
A sense of patriotism and national integration
to be developed.
Formation of character.
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Period from 1959 to 1971
This was the most comprehensive education report in
the history of Pakistan which covered almost all
aspects/ components of education system and which
generated plans of action for different departments of
education in Pakistan.

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Period from 1972 to date
In 1973 third constitution of Pakistan was introduced in article
37, 38 of the constitution education was given the priority
which is as under: Article 37:
“The state shall—(a) promote with special care the educational
and economic interest of backward classes or areas; (b) remove
illiteracy and provide free and compulsory education within the
minimum possible period; (c) make technical and professional
education generally available and higher education accessible
to all on the basis of merit; (f) enable people of all areas,
through education, training, agricultural and industrial
development and other methods, to participate fully in all
forms of national activities, including employment in the
service of Pakistan…”

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 Period from 1972 to date
Article 38:
The state shall…(d) provide basic necessities of life such
as food, clothing, housing, education and medical relief
for all such citizens, irrespective of classes and castes as
are permanently or primarily unable to earn their
livelihood on account of infirmity, sickness or
unemployment.

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• Different National Education policies, plans were
introduced to improve and strengthen the system of
education but still we are facing those problems that we
had 1947. The salient features of different education
policies/ plans are as under:
▫ Well framed policies
 ▫ Need and situation based
 ▫ Focus on burning issues
 ▫ Compatible with international standards
 ▫ A blend of Islamic ideology and science and technology
 ▫ Educational policies and plans were comprehensive in nature very ideal appealing
and promising on the paper
 ▫ Had the potential to reshape and restructure education
 ▫ Hardly any aspect of education remained missing
 ▫ All types and levels were addressed
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 Major Gaps and Grey Areas in the Implementation of the Policies
 Lack of political will
 Less priority to education
 Low budget to education
 Faults in procedures and practices
 Non-availability of competent and educational personnel
 Illiteracy and poverty of the people
 Discontinuation of the policies and plans due to change in government
 Hiring of teachers and educational personnel on political basis
 • Unstable government system
 • Threats on borders and wars with India
 • Separation of East Pakistan / Fall of Dhakka
 • Educational policies and plans had implications for curriculum
development, teachers training, training of administration and assessment
practices but these were not operationalized at required time .

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