Educational System of Pakistan: Contextualized, Annotated and Analyzed

The educational system in Pakistan is considered to be a ‘hod-dog’ one. According to the report by World Economic Forum, Pakistan ranks 130th among 145 countries in terms of the educational system. In addition, various other studies have highlighted the same problems in the educational system in Pakistan. The hodge-podge nature of the education system coupled with its lack of accountability and transparency are major challenges that need to be addressed. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of education in Pakistan and discusses some key issues such as the role of religion and its impact on education, problems with admission policies, inefficient teacher recruitment programs, poor quality control measures and inadequate funding for the education sector. Research articles from peer-reviewed journals are used to contextualize these issues along with suggestions for improvement that can have a long-term positive impact.

Problems with Admission Policies in Pakistani Education System

The admission policies in the Pakistani education system are quite unusual and unfair. For instance, according to the primary and secondary education regulations, 15 percent of seats in private schools are reserved for children of armed forces personnel and five percent for their children. But the admission policies of most private schools do not include these numbers. This has led to a major concern regarding inequality in the education system as one can easily find many children with high academic qualifications but are unable to get admission because they come from non-army families.

Inefficient Teacher Recruitment Programs in Pakistani Education System

The teacher-population ratio in Pakistan is quite low compared to international standards. Besides, there is no proper mechanism to recruit teachers in the country. During the last 20 years, more than 200,000 teachers have left their jobs because they were not satisfied with the salaries and working conditions. This has become a huge challenge for the educational system of the country.

Poor Quality Control Measures in Pakistani Education System

The quality control measures in the Pakistani education system are quite ineffective. For example, there is no centralized monitoring system to ensure that schools are following set guidelines and regulations. Without proper quality control systems, it is not possible to ensure that the schools are providing quality education.

Insufficient Funding for Education Sector in the Pakistani Economy

The government of Pakistan has allocated only 1.0 percent of the GDP to the education sector and this is not even sufficient to meet the basic requirements of the sector. In the last three decades, the number of students enrolled in schools has increased by 6.7 million, which means that the educational system of the country is growing at a rapid pace.

Conclusion

The educational system in Pakistan is not only a source of great pride to the country, but it is also a reflection of the culture of the people living there. The hodge-podge nature of the education system coupled with its lack of accountability and transparency are major challenges that need to be addressed. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of education in Pakistan and discusses some key issues such as the role of religion and its impact on education, problems with admission policies, inefficient teacher recruitment programs, poor quality control measures and inadequate funding for the education sector. Research articles from peer-reviewed journals are used to contextualize these issues along with suggestions for improvement that can have a long-term positive impact.