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REVOLUTION IN EDUCATIONOr EDUCATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION IN PAKISTAN-Education plays a key role in the development of a nation. It serves as the foundationupon which the infrastructure of various agencies of a state is built. Without education the progress in any sector of the economy is inconceivable because it is education thatmoulds the attitudes of people and let them to perform their duties and avoid exploitation.But unfortunately our education system is in a great shamble. Our literary rate isdesperately low as against a high drop out ratio at primary level. Our present literary rateis hardly 40%. It means that the whole system is in doldrums. Let us discuss the issue indetail.Just after the independence, Pakistan had to face a lot of problems. Its agriculturalindustry, trade and commerce and so many other sectors were in shabby condition. Wehad a state with land and people but no proper infrastructure to develop these institutions.The fact of education and educational institutions were not different. The Britishintroduced and established such a system that served their purpose. Its sole aim was to- perpetuate the slavery of the enslaved nation in the sub-continent. It produced only clerksand toadies. Certainly it was in no way suitable for a country like Pakistan which hadrealized only its political freedom.Keeping in view the dismal situation the government from the very beginningconcentrated on education. Successive governments made efforts to improve the level of education both quantitatively and382The Study of Educationqualitatively but no significant change has occurred so far. However the followingaspects were given due attention.(1) Introduction of free and compulsory primary education.(2) Education to be inspired by Islamic teachings.(3) Circle of technical education is to be expanded.(4) Improvement in the quality of education at all levels and in particular inuniversity education.Besides this numerous education policies were announced in the country. The aim andobjectives of all these policies were to improve the quantity level as well as the quality toachieve our goal. No policy was implemented in letter and spirit.
 
The developing countries of the world are trying their level best to discord the old andobsolete colonial system served only a limited purpose and devise a full blowneducational system apt to their culture and civilization. Third world countries have maderemarkable strides in increasing their literary rates. Singapore has raised her literary rateto 92 percent. Philippine 89 percent Sari Lanka 91 percent and China 86 percent asagainst Pakistan which is not above 40 percent. Although our statistics are calculated onthe basis of a very weak and unrealistic definition of literacy, our criterion of literacy isthe ability "to sign" - a definition which does not meet the UN specification of the term.Education provides the base upon which the pillars of progress and development of anation are erected. It is a great tragedy that in spite of theoretical fanfare no practical stepwas ever taken by the government to end the educational bankruptcy of our nation. For example Sharif Commission endeavoured to modify the British system and bring it closer to American pattern in aim, content and testing model. American system became popular in our country because it suits to mind of the present elite class of our society. <Another drawback of our education system is the introduction of dual system i.e. theEnglish Medium private schools and Urdu medium government schools. The upper strata prefer to send their children to English medium private schools being registered ascompanies and are using important syllabi that are prepared and taught in foreign mostlyWestern countries. These syllabi are more varied in content and style. The children of these schools are taught leadership, self-respect, independent ideas, confidence buildingand to select between alternatives.The teaching staff is given better training facilities and are well versed in modernteaching methods. They are given handsome packages as compared to government schoolteachers. They are more civilized and less punitive. The expenditure incurred on teachingstaff their training, workshops and other facilities are being charged from students as highfee whose parents can afford and pay gladly such high fee.On the other hand in government schools both the teaching curriculum and style is totallydifferent. The teacher is a great authoritarian and discourages the student to express hisview-point. Number of students per class is so much high that the teacher even find itdifficult to remember the names of his pupils. Similarly, individual attention is quiteimpossible. That is why sometimes even able and intelligent boys are spoiled. Rotememorization of material by the students is the biggest feature of this system. Thestudents who are unable to memorize use unfair means to get through the examination.The teaching staff is paid too little to make their both ends meet.Since majority of our people are poor and so majority of the students dead in governmentowned institutions where ethics social values and critical384The Study of Education11.
 
111.IV.understanding are seldom taught. Thus we have failed to improve the quantity as well asquality of our education.Let us now turn towards the direction of suggestions and sort out ways and means torectify the situation by bringing reforms in the system.i. The curriculum presently in vogue needs to be thoroughly modified. The materialaimed at moral physical and spiritual uplift of the students be included in thecurriculum, ii. Adequate occasions for- extra curricular activities be available to the students, In. Refresher courses " be arranged for the government school teachers to acquaint them with the modern methods of teaching,iv. Teaching activities of the teachers need to beclosely monitored.The most important thing in this connection is mitigation of students per class. Thenumber of students in a class should not be more than thirty. So that every student couldreceive individual attention of his teacher. The tercher should bring a positive change intheir attitudes and encourage the students to express their view point without anyhesitation.The examination system needs to be changed altogether as it encourages selective study.The material crammed by the students floats on their mind just after the examinationsince their study is based on rote memorization and there is no thought or understandinginvolved in their study. Such types of students have no imagination and calibre after theyleave the institutions. System should be devised in such a way to keep the students busythroughout the year.Primary and secortdary education should be. the focus of our attention as it helps inincreasing the literacy rate and provides a base for higher education. Awareness should becreated in masses and number of primary schools385The Study of Educationshould be increased every now and then politicisation of the educational institutions isalso a great issue. Political parties should strictly be banned to create their sphere of influence in the educational institutions.. The practice of using students as shields and pressure groups should be completely discouraged. As students are in the process of 
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