Falling standards of education in Pakistan, a warning sign
In response to a visible decline in educational standards within government-run institutions, provincial governments have taken unconventional steps to uphold quality education. While renowned private educational institutions have been excelling in the area, governments are striving for innovative solutions to match their success. The recent decision by the caretaker Punjab government to transfer control of 1000 public-sector schools to a non-governmental organization (NGO) exemplifies this approach. However, it also sheds light on the chronic deficiencies plaguing the provincial education system in financial, administrative, and academic domains.
This initiative echoes previous efforts where thousands of schools were handed over to NGOs under the Punjab Education Initiative Management Authority (PEIMA) in 2015. Government-funded organizations significantly enhanced education quality, improved facilities in urban and rural schools, and successfully re-enrolled many out-of-school children.
These measures underscore the urgency of addressing the deteriorating education quality in public-sector institutions. Professor Abid Sherwani, Director General of the University of Management and Technology (UMT), highlighted the declining quality across various facets of life, affecting education profoundly. He emphasized the need for stringent regulations, administrative enhancements, and a defined criterion for running educational institutions.
Professor Sherwani also criticized nominal budget allocations for the education sector, warning that neglecting education inevitably leads to compromised quality. While colleges and universities maintain slightly better educational standards, issues persist at primary and secondary levels due to teacher inadequacies, administrative weaknesses, bureaucratic indifference, and a lack of political will.
Challenges like insufficient capacity-building initiatives, inadequate infrastructure, temporary teacher appointments, low attendance, and missing facilities further erode education quality. Former Deputy Secretary of Planning at the Punjab Higher Education Department, Professor Ashfaq Bokhari, pointed out the imbalance between demand and supply in academia, affecting education quality at different levels.
Professor Bokhari highlighted the shortcomings in appointing regular Vice Chancellors at public-sector universities, attributing this to a flawed process that weakens academic and administrative control. He lamented the lack of political will, indicating that education has never been a top priority for decision-makers.
Similar sentiments resonate among common people, underscoring the obliviousness of the political elite to the declining education quality in the country’s institutions.