I think that educational crises is the main obstacle in the development of Pakistan. It is a threat for tens millions of children in Pakistan today which are also the future of|Pakistan. It is impossible for any country to survive, prosper and develop in this modern world without its educated population. However, education crises is not only catastrophic for human, social and economic consequences but also it is a threat to the security and solidarity of the country.
It is high time we must think and plan how to confront this most pressing long-term challenge. The economic cost of educated Pakistan is equal to a flood every year but the only difference is that this is self imposed calamity. It is very sad that one in ten out of school going children in the world is Pakistani which is also equal to the total population of Lahore.
It seems impossible that the government can achieve the millennium development goals by 2015 in education sector. It is wonderful! how the India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are all achieving the same targets. The improvement rate of India is ten and Bangladesh is twice time than Pakistan.
In spite of such depressing situation, results can be achieved within two years by indomitable efforts through allocation of an additional budget amounting to Rs.100 billion which is the 50% increase in the current budget.
The Constitution of Pakistan gives right of universal education to its every citizen. Article 25A further elaborates that a citizen can take the government into the court for not providing the access to universal education, even the court can take suo moto action in this regard. However, it is regretted to say that during the discussion of the 18th amendment, it has been ignored that education has now become a right in spite of a privilege as per previous practice which was very essential.
According to Present rate of progress nobody sees Pakistan with universal education as defined in its constitution.
By controlling the other emergency resources that Pakistan facing upto 10% fecundity can be reduced through one year of education for women in Pakistan.
It is totally wrong concept to believe that the Pakistan is so poor that it cannot provide this fundamental right to its citizens. It is considerable that there are 26 countries in the world which are poorer than Pakistan but their rate of School going children is more than Pakistan. Consequently it is not financial problem but it is the necessity of determination and formulation of policies to meet the demand and its implementation efficiently.
It is regretted to say that in 2005-2006 that pakistan expended 2.5% of its budget on education for most required areas which is reduced to 1.5% now. It is more less that the subsidies given by the government to Pakistan Steel, PIA and PEPCO etc. The budget allocated to the provinces for education is not properly utilized.
This assumption is not accurate at all that the performance of the public school system is very poor due to lesser salaries of their teachers. On the contrary public school teachers get 2/3rds more pay than their equivalent private low cost school counterpart, even their income is four times that of the average parent of a student in their school. Even though their rate of absentee from schools is 10-15% on any working day.
Low cost private schools are partly addressing the education demand as 1/3rd children of the all rural areas go to these schools. The cost of public schools is Rs.150 per month and low cost private school is Rs.250.
Regardless of large assumption of domestic and international media that in fact Madrassahs are not covering this gap because only 6% students go there.
50% of students aged 6-16 years are unable to read even a sentence while only 35% can read a story. Their performance is to some extent better than that of out of school children, of whom 24% can read story. This terrifyingly situation depicts how education sector has been ignored which is the backbone for the progress o any country.
What a pitiable scenario that on the one hand 21,000 schools are running without buildings and on the other hand the buildings of 30,000 schools are in such a dangerous condition which are also a threat even to the lives of students.
Keeping in view such an alarming and deteriorating situation as explained above it is the duty of the government to take remedial steps to meet the educational crises on emergent basis which is the main hurdle in the way of the development of Pakistan.
