I have seen numerous discussions here in Gupshup where we thrash the Madrassah schooling system ferociously, and rightly in many cases. However we know that corruption is rampant in Pakistan and majority of the people who constitute the system or infrastructure of Pakistani institutions are not from Madrassahs. They are schooled in private or public schools mostly. Our so-called cherished alternative to the Madrassahs.
However we rarely focus our discussion on how well does our schooling system perform and what does it inculcate into those who are enrolled in them. What is hte purpose of schools in Pakistan and towards what goals are their policies/procedures aligned.
There is a lack of values, ethics and morale in our population in general. These are values which are inbred into people as children through homes and schools. Are our schools simply failing to do this?
I can focus on a few things, let starts with discipline, the most common and favored way of enforcing disciplines in our schools is by physically humiliating the child, could be a slap, stick, awkward positions etc. In other words from the earliest ages we teach our children to change someones behavior or attitude by coercing physical pressure on them. Naturally, we can see the state of the majority of people in Pakistan, physical means to address an issue are the forerunners as solutions. Creative solutions are rare and snared upon. People also find it acceptable to coerce beyond ones will as result of this upbringing or teaching.
Another thing I can touch upon is, the style of teaching. Rattafication is the best Qualification. We all know that popular phrase. We all know how true it is also in the Pakistani schooling system as well. It pays dividends to have a good Ratta memory. However this severly impedes the development of ones ability to choose and be creative and think rationally. It robs people of their ability to analyze and act as indivduals on their own and make decisions. As can be seen in Pakistan people tend to be followers of one or another political party rather than analyzing each parties agenda and goals towards the country.
So our people are their own biggest problem in a sense as well. The Madrassah batch is the worst of a kind in some cases but in general Pakistani people are not anywhere at the top of the totempole either in their character upbringing and maturity towards being responsible.
What do you think? What else is wrong? What is right?
Re: What are the Pakistani school systems intended for
Efforts start with individuals and off-hand I can think of at-least 2 which I myself practiced and provided me a sense of achievement:
For those in Pakistan, take responsibility for at least one child from the 'less privileged' class (possibly your domestic help's kids) and try to provide 'better' education by yourself, your kids/siblings or sponsor his/her quality tuition.
For those abroad, try and develop curriculum for school level courses keeping in view the shortcomings of our own and their experience with schools in the developed world and share that with resource stretched private schools in Pakistan (government schools won't follow it and rich private schools can buy it).
Re: What are the Pakistani school systems intended for
Shahbaz Sharif has got wonderful idea for betterment of schooling system in Punjab.
Where teachers don't come to classes, furniture is inadequate, water is unavailable, boundary walls are not there, no proper schedule for classes/exams
He has planned to setup IT Labs airconditioned and provided with inernet access.
What a stupidity
Another attempt to waste Punjab's budget of development in useless publicity stuff after 2 rupay ki roti drama
Efforts start with individuals and off-hand I can think of at-least 2 which I myself practiced and provided me a sense of achievement:
For those in Pakistan, take responsibility for at least one child from the 'less privileged' class (possibly your domestic help's kids) and try to provide 'better' education by yourself, your kids/siblings or sponsor his/her quality tuition.
For those abroad, try and develop curriculum for school level courses keeping in view the shortcomings of our own and their experience with schools in the developed world and share that with resource stretched private schools in Pakistan (government schools won't follow it and rich private schools can buy it).
1 - This would be a good charitable way to boost Pakistan's literacy rate. You would probably find most support for this kind of initiative in cities.
2 - The rudimentary issue with this would be you first need to board exams changed at HSC and SSC level. They are formatted such that foreign curriculums cannot succeed. Most of the books taught in private school are foreign and less from pakistani authors. However what I am focusing here on is the change we need in methodology for educating Pakistani children. And the impact it would have on their psyche. It needs to be used as a massive vehicle for change.
Shahbaz Sharif has got wonderful idea for betterment of schooling system in Punjab.
Where teachers don't come to classes, furniture is inadequate, water is unavailable, boundary walls are not there, no proper schedule for classes/exams
He has planned to setup IT Labs airconditioned and provided with inernet access.
What a stupidity
Another attempt to waste Punjab's budget of development in useless publicity stuff after 2 rupay ki roti drama
And that is a problem, changes for scoring points do not make our educational system better. We need our educational system to create thinkers and creative people not zombies.
1 - This would be a good charitable way to boost Pakistan's literacy rate. You would probably find most support for this kind of initiative in cities.
2 - The rudimentary issue with this would be you first need to board exams changed at HSC and SSC level. They are formatted such that foreign curriculums cannot succeed. Most of the books taught in private school are foreign and less from pakistani authors. However what I am focusing here on is the change we need in methodology for educating Pakistani children. And the impact it would have on their psyche. It needs to be used as a massive vehicle for change.
I apologise for the error. What I meant was actually trying to convince schools to adopt modern teaching methods, giving them practical simpler solutions to heavy textbook treatment of material.
e.g. the boards' exams require student to 'rattafy' the canal/river systems in Pakistan and we have long essays about them in the textbooks. We can have very simple maps (computer generated and printed) which would guide students exactly what we are talking about.
I apologise for the error. What I meant was actually trying to convince schools to adopt modern teaching methods, giving them practical simpler solutions to heavy textbook treatment of material.
e.g. the boards' exams require student to 'rattafy' the canal/river systems in Pakistan and we have long essays about them in the textbooks. We can have very simple maps (computer generated and printed) which would guide students exactly what we are talking about.
No problem. I agree. Basically any schooling system in Pakistan does not develop the intellectual capacity of a child beyond do what is needed to get good grades. The emphasis is not on development of the child in all aspects but just on their memory. Even at university level students spend their time memorizing lengthy procedures and theories.
Our discipline is meant to subjugate/humiliate instead of teaching the rationale behind making the correct choice in a situation.
