23 October 2020

Language of instruction

Referring to the 2006 White Paper on Education (2006) as “the only thoroughly deliberated official
policy document on education that I have read in Pakistan” she recalled how the education minister at
the time (an ex-army general) rejected it because “it recommended the mother tongue to be used as
the medium of instruction”. I recall the rationale that was proffered by the education minister at the
time — ‘I was educated in English and I have been so successful.’ The less said about that the better.

All this time, the evidence is so overwhelming that qualified educationists consider the matter settled —
children learn best in a language they understand well. This evidence is based both on careful research
studies and on real-world experience that developing countries employing first languages for education
have done very well. The conclusion has been repeatedly endorsed by international organisations like
Unesco, Unicef and the EU.

The first is the dilemma of which language to choose for instruction where students speak a mix of first
languages. The solution proposed is to use English because it does not favour any group, which morphs
into an argument for using English across the board.

If the country is 70 per cent rural, then clearly all rural students can be taught in their respective first
languages. Even in large cities like Karachi, ethnic conflicts have resulted in residential segregation. So, at
the outside 20pc of students are in mixed locations. The common-sense solution is to go ahead with the
first-best policy for 80pc of students while thinking of a compromise for the remaining 20pc.

The primary resource of this country is its children. The major investment of parents is in their children.
Let us nurture this resource wisely so it can be confident, creative and productive and contribute to the
reinvigoration of society. We need to set aside whims, dogma and prejudices and go by the evidence of
what is best for the child.

October 15, 2020

Our Education system has unfairness in its roots: minister

“In over 70 years, we could only create islands of standard education in our country But we couldn’t
spread this education to our entire country. It is just scattered here and there,” said, Federal Minister for
Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood.

“All in all, introducing the Single National Curriculum is not an easy thing to do. It is a very big thing and
achieving big is not easy. So we look forward to feedback from educationists and other experts as it is
after all a work in progress,” he said.
October 19 2020

Balochistan govt allocates Rs 20 M for students

The Balochistan government has allocated Rs2O million for Baloch students studying in Punjab, while
the Punjab government Has agreed to pay for the expenses of 142 of these students studying at
gahauddin Zakaria XJniversity (BzU) Multan till 2023.

Acknowledging the financial problems faced j the; Baloch students studying in various universities of
Punjab, the Punjab government had contacted the Balochistan government that approved allocation of
Rs 20m for the students. These funds will be spent on their educational expenses in the expenses.

26 October 2020

Learning poverty in Pakistan may rise to 79pc due to

Covid
ISLAMABAD: A new World Bank report suggests that learning poverty in Pakistan
will go up to 79 per cent as a result of school closure during the Covid-19
pandemic.

Learning poverty means being unable to read and understand a simple text by age 10. Currently,
53pc of children in low- and middle-income countries cannot read and understand a simple
story by the end of their primary school-level education. It is calculated as the simple addition of
the share of children out of school and the share of children who do not learn to read by the age
10, even if they are attending school.

In Pakistan, the level of learning poverty is already high at 75pc, based on the official
government data.

The report, “Learning Losses in Pakistan due to Covid-19 School Closures”, however, in its
conclusion says that these estimates are not cast in stone, and in collaboration with the
government, the development partners can influence these numbers by taking appropriate
action, particularly now that schools have reopened.

28 October 2020

Uniform MDCAT syllabus provides level-playing field to students: ministry

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) said on Tuesday that it was
necessary to introduce a uniform syllabus for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test
(MDCAT) to provide a level playing field to students across the country.
27 October 2020

In a first, PMC ends foreign medical student’s quota

ISLAMABAD: While abolishing quota for foreign students for the first time in the country’s history, the
Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) has made it mandatory for overseas Pakistanis and foreign students
to clear Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) to get admission in Pakistan.

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), representative body of doctors, expressed concern over the
decision and said the decision would dose the doors of medical education on local student.

18/9/2020

Money taken from corrupt to be Sent on Education: PM

PM Imran khan asked to take back looted national wealth from corrupt people and invest the money thus recovered
in education.
Because he thinks that Children of pakistan will improve considerably if he spend on their education.
He asked Pakistanis should make their own inventions.
"This can be done only through science technology knowledge economy and education".
Singapore boasts $330 billion worth of exports compared to pakistan's $25 billion Malaysia made an import in
electronics are encouraged be its leader Dr. Mahathir Muhammad.
Inaugrates institute setup with Austrian government's cooperation.
Microsoft and facebook boasts revenues greater than entire countries like Pakistan. "Only one Microsoft is worth
$200 billion while our total annual budget is $60 billion.
Institute in KPK.

8 October 2020

PM for skills enhancement of Young population

Minister Imran Khan has said that making Pakistan a self-reliant country and an emerging global power
is the main goal of the present government.

In his concluding remarks, the prime minister stated that the ICT (Information and Communication
Technology) sector held great potential for employment generation and revenue earnings. He
emphasized on \ skills enhancement of the county’s young population. “Our government’s goal is a self-
reliant Pakistan that will emerge as a global

4 January 2020:

Future of private BA, MA students hangs in balance:

PESHAWAR: Thousands of students, who get higher education as private candidates, n, would no longer
be able to continue their education after March 31 as Higher Education Commission (HEC) has directed,
the universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to stop enrolment of private students for BA and MA
examinations.

However, HEC and universities in the province have not developed any alternate system for private
students, who are in-service or couldn't get admission in colleges and universities for multiple reasons,
according to sources.

October 15, 2020

Our Education system has unfairness in its roots: minister

“In over 70 years, we could only create islands of standard education in our country But we couldn’t
spread this education to our entire country. It is just scattered here and there,” said, Federal Minister for
Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood.

“All in all, introducing the Single National Curriculum is not an easy thing to do. It is a very big thing and
achieving big is not easy. So we look forward to feedback from educationists and other experts as it is
after all a work in progress,” he said.

28 October 2020

Uniform MDCAT syllabus provides level-playing field to students: ministry

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) said on Tuesday that it was
necessary to introduce a uniform syllabus for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test
(MDCAT) to provide a level playing field to students across the country.

3 November 2020

Uniform education to end class-based system: PM

.ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said a uniform education system would end the
class-based systern in the country as all children would get equal opportunities to excel.

As per plan, uniform education will be introduced in classes six to eight in 2022 and from nine to 12
grades in 2023.

According to a handout, the prime minister said the new generation should be fully aware of life and
Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) as “our prophet is a role model for all of us”.
17/8/2020
Dictating discourse, banning books

Shahrukh Nawaz Raja 

(The News)

The author explained the issue of TBI about education.

He first explained that in 1933, young youth
was going to burn the "un-German" ideas of renowned philosophers who were against cultural limitness. They were
going to burn 25,000 books. They all supported Nazis.
Tahaffuz e-Bunyad- Islam(TBI) banned 100 textbooks in Punjab which was the the idea against authoritative
regimes. Managing director of punjab also removed from his post.
State has always been concerned with critical thinking in schools and colleges rather than promote the education.
In Afghan war, USA funded dollars to Madressahs of School-going-Afghan. The textbooks to convert all children
into jihadists. After 9/11, USA, Centre of Afghanistan Studies (CAS) tasked to clean up that textbooks but it was
still used in some areas of Afghanistan.
Resetly introduced Single National Curriculumworking n further religiosity on impressionable young
minds.
Author analysis that just cleaning the textbooks is not enough, we have to promote education system which will
be strong enough to not narrow or restrict the ideological view.
Helen Keller also said about 1933 incident that burning books will not end the thoughts. These texts we the will
continue.

7 November 2020

Bangladesh opens first Islamic school for transgender persons:

DHAKA: Bangladesh opened its first Islamic school for transgender Muslims on Friday with clerics calling
it a first step towards integrating the discriminated minority into society.

The madressah is one of a series of recent steps in Bangladesh to make life easier for the nation’s up to
1.5 million transgender people.