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Education and the state: a bitter harvestñ





 is now at a crossroads. It can either continue to ignore the importance of education and
accelerate the process of decline in all spheres of the state, or see the present crisis as an opportunity to
review its priorities and invest heavily in quality education

Pakistan is paying the price of neglecting the critical role of education in building a strong and prosperous
state. The country is in turmoil and the crisis is evident in the tottering democracy, rapid inflation, and
decay of social and moral norms. The onslaught of terrorist attacks and the recent devastating floods have
created a state of panic in all segments of society. Not surprisingly, there has been an onslaught of attacks
by the international media painting a doomsday scenario for Pakistan.

In the midst of all this chaos and confusion, the pundits are busy putting forward all kinds of remedies to
cure the ailing state. On close scrutiny however, none of the interventions proposed hold any weight and
are ultimately incapable of producing any real or meaningful change. The cries of revolt by the masses
against feudalism by a populist leader residing abroad, or arguments for military intervention in putting a
technocrats government in place, or support for judicial activism to stem corruption by some critics, are
nothing but quick-fixes that are likely to stall the crisis but not resolve it. 

What is required for regenerating Pakistan is a change of mindset that cannot be achieved through
physical brute force but only through a complex process of educating the masses. The need of the hour is
for all parties to put together a collective vision of a progressive and democratic state in which the role of
education, geared to produce the desired positive outcomes, is clearly earmarked. 

It is universally acknowledged by all that good quality education is a powerful instrument for
transforming individuals by impacting their mental and personality make up, as well as honing their skills
and tapping their hidden talents. Quality education has been the key to success for all modern and
developed states.  is a shining example of what difference a well planned and thoughtful education
policy can make in the economic progress of a developing country. 

In Pakistan too education can play a pivotal role in producing peaceful, law abiding, mature and
responsible citizens who can make a positive contribution to the economic growth of the country as part
of a skilled workforce. If education is given the attention it deserves in Pakistan, it can help our country to
become a modern and progressive state and produce empowered citizens that shun terrorism and violence,
reject feudalism, as well as exploitation of women, children and all marginalised sections of society. 

The current education system at all levels continues to suffer from many drawbacks. Pakistan is still
tackling issues of low literacy and primary enrolment rates, especially for females, in rural areas in
meeting the   
 . The poor quality of education has led to producing school
and university graduates that lack critical thinking and problem-solving abilities as well as required skills
to be usefully employed. The private sector has made considerable contribution in providing quality
education during the last decade. However, the yawning gap between the private and 




 as well as the madrassa schools has resulted in a fractured society where the English
speaking, westernised elites enjoy high status and powerful positions, and the disadvantaged masses
remain poor and largely unemployed. Worse still is the plight of the madrassa students who are subjected
to an educational system that makes them narrow-minded and radical and without useful skills to make a
useful contribution to the state. 

In my view, there are numerous factors, socio-economic and political, in the last six decades that are
responsible for the educational mess that has been created. These include: low priority attached to
education as seen in meagre funding allocations; poor educational planning and elitist policies; low status
of teachers and lack of î
  
in modern approaches and
 
 ;


; excessive bureaucratic controls; exploitation of education by vested interests; lack
of faculty ownership; absence of 
   mechanisms; divorce of curricula from the real
world; exploitation of religion, and lack of research.

The result of this educational mismanagement by our political and economic managers has resulted in a
bitter harvest manifested in all forms of ugliness that have erupted around us. The starving and illiterate
masses, the frightened populace scared of    
occurring at a greater frequency, the
oppressed women struggling for their rights, the innocent children begging on the streets of Pakistan are
all victims of this neglect.

Pakistan is now at a crossroads. It can either continue to ignore the importance of education and
accelerate the process of decline in all spheres of the state, or see the present crisis as an opportunity to
review its priorities and invest heavily in quality education. To reap the harvest of an educated populace,
the seeds have to be planted now. With sound planning, major investments, firm commitment, and quality
control, surely the harvest will be sweet. 

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