How can we improve the current education policy?

Pakistan currently suffers an economic downturn with several other factors that act as an obstacle to the economy and the economic development, education being the most devastating factor has hit Pakistan massively. According to different sources Pakistan’s literacy rate varies from 10% to 30%. The state declared 30% includes those who can just write their name while another source says the literacy rate to be 10% that includes 2% of English literate people.  This is probably because of parallel education systems that created a huge diversity in the education system. There is no such standard with which education is provided to the residents of this country. The three most recognized systems in Pakistan can be labeled as

• ·         English medium system
• ·         Urdu medium system
• ·         Madrassah system

The diversification in education has created paths. Graduated students from each of the system are treated differently by the society and the economy, there is no standardization and thus the educational sector suffers a massive loss. The educational budget every year is 2%, which includes grants to ghost school, corruption and last but not the least, the ministries. Everyone benefits from this small chunk of budget allotted to the educational sector. Madrassah systems belong to a conservative part of the society and majorly institutions in this category provide free
education (along with
accommodationin many cases). Madrassah’s in Pakistan enjoys a huge and strong political backing and thus the state recognizes all these religious institutions.

We propose that schools and all the educational institutions should have all the three systems and one should be free to choose which one to pick as his/her career. The systems should have the same standard and unification and government should be responsible to moderate these institutions and make sure they function in
a
way they are meant to. We can never have an ideal system but at least we can strive to make an ideal system. Non-state actors should step forward and take the responsibility in improvising the current education policy in Pakistan. Foreign education should be provided to everyone be it rich or poor and government should play its role and subsidize education as this is one of the integral part of the economy. The budget in terms of money should not be given to the institutions directly but the government should make sure the amount is used fairly and accommodated where it is most desirable. Class conflicts should not exist in the educational system but instead when a person graduates from whichever institutions he should be looked upon the same way as compared to a student who graduated from a comparatively expensive institution.

The government should look upon the issue of education more seriously as this is a resource where a country produces its assets from, its resource that the country can benefit from in the future. Pakistan may prosper if its literacy rate is increased and education is considered to be the more fundamental part of the economy rather than a money making business. Authorities need to take action and work on the existing policies so that the upcoming generations benefit from it.