Sikander Rind
Education is the fundamental right of an individual for which Islam admonishes, “it is momentous for everyone to get education and then impart learnt knowledge”. Miserably, now it has become very hard for masses to provide this mandatory need to their children in order to fulfill an essential obligation. Many people claim that inflation hampers people to meet with the demands of education and for some, this deprivation is due to high fees and shortage of educational institutes. Factually, today our entire system has collapsed by self-interest based motives including corruption that has badly affected the image of education.
Corruption is not less than an evil in our society. It snatches the rights of individuals including right to get education. This downfall is not only born by educational institutes but also by state, which is responsible for ignoring educational development. History emphasizes that education is the only weapon for converting deprivation into prosperity. For complying with history’s claim, Countries have started to focus on this aspect, which has led them to success. Education has changed the destiny of those states which prompted their nations towards getting education. Unfortunately, in our country, education sector is rather neglected by every government. For instance, we spend only 2 -3% of GDP on education which doesn’t guarantee quality education.
Woefully, our literacy rate is around 55-57% which shows the real image and value of education in the country. Bangladesh, where more than 90% population is literate, is an example for us. We are not provided what our state (not its rulers) and the article 25 of constitution has assured us to be provided.
In Pakistan, every sector has been victimized by corruption. It has not spared even prestigious education sector. In reality, people get jobs by nepotism where funds are misused in the name of educational development. Institutes, especially schools, are victimized by ghost teachers. Selection of lectures in universities is based on favoritism; not on merit. Government has declared educational emergencies with an effect equal to naught.
Educational process doesn’t depend only on funds. It needs sincerity which is an important factor that promotes its value. This value can only be enhanced by the people who are fully aware what education means. Unfortunately, our educational setup is devoid of efficient heads. For instance, education minister is not elected on the bases of experience. Instead our ruling faction elects ministers by choice. It is one of the important reasons which creates obstacles in development of education system in Pakistan. For reducing this gap, government should appoint highly qualified persons as education minister whether at federal or provincial level.
Similarly, ghost teachers have also been barriers in promoting development in education sector. School is an initial stage which makes the bases of a child’s educational building. In fact, schools have not been up to mark to come up with a positive outcome. In short, the bottom line lies in the worth-heeding words of Nelson Mandela who once said, “Education is an important weapon which has potential to change the nations”.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are those of the author and Balochistan Voices not necessarily agrees with them.
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