Multiplicity of Educational Systems in Pakistan

It is said that “one mind is better but two are best” because it provides an opportunity for sharing and interaction among people of different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, diversifying learning would enable them to view from different aspects hence this diversity brings richness of ideas and thoughts which is indeed crucial in refining the final thought. This notion could be dangerous if the same analogy would be replicate in other context, where pluralistic approach is not advisable hence seen as a threatening phenomenon to others.

An Educational and development issue that I have identified for my assignment is “multiplicity of educational systems in Pakistan” in relation with higher education system of the country. In this paper, I would discuss the “multiple education systems” and its impact of on students’ lives in particular and on the country in general.

Being an Educational Counsellor, I have had several opportunities to interact with students’ ages 15-20 from various regions of Pakistan, in order to discuss with them their career preferences and further to guide them to how to prepare their portfolios. Hence, the issues of multiplicity of educational systems stem out from there that further invoke in me for additional deliberations.

According to Isani and Virk (2005), “the nation is divided because we are running three parallel systems of education”. However, these three systems are:

• Public Education System:

State provides a system where education is offered in students’ mother tongue; besides Urdu as a national language, and English as a foreign language taught. In public schools, teaching of English Language begins in Grade 6. Minimum school fee is very low as not all people can afford hence only those send their children to public schools.

• Private Education System:

Few entrepreneurs who wish to bring reforms in education sector have open their schools and colleges. These entrepreneurs consist of educationists, political affluent leaders, reformists, activist, and conscience members of civil society and others. These private schools are English Medium schools, where students pay high amount as school fee that could range between Rs. 150/=- 4,000/=. It is therefore evident that some private schools are identical to public schools and offer average education whereas other few who charge heavy amount of fee maintain the standard and frequently invites parents and other monitoring bodies to evaluate their performances

• Cambridge Education System:

Cambridge education system existed in South Asia before independence, hence with the advent of new state i.e. Pakistan, because at that time state did not have an alternate to it Cambridge education system continued its proceedings in Pakistan. At present, there is a huge network of schools registered with it.