Education: The Foundation Upon Which the Nation's Future Rests

On the launch of the District Education Performance Index 2023, Planning Minister Prof. Ahsan Iqbal emphasized the critical need for education reform in Pakistan. The event, attended by British High Commissioner Jane Marriott and Academia, Media Representatives and other distinguished guests, served as a platform to highlight the pressing challenges and potential solutions in the education sector. Prof. Iqbal underscored the vital role of education in national development and the urgent need to align Pakistan's educational priorities with global standards.

Prof. Ahsan Iqbal congratulated his team for their efforts and expressed gratitude to the British Government for its support in preparing the District Education Performance Index through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). He highlighted that the journey of development in Pakistan is intrinsically linked to the state of its education sector. According to him, the biggest obstacle to development is the backwardness in education, which has hindered the nation’s progress on multiple fronts.

Drawing an analogy, the Planning Minister compared the country’s infrastructure to the hardware of a computer, stating that while roads, bridges, and economic infrastructure are crucial, they are not sufficient for development.

The “software” needed to utilize the infrastructure fully is the development of human resources through education. Prof Iqbal

Prof Ahsan Iqbal likened the situation to a laptop without an operating system, emphasizing that without educated individuals to drive progress, the nation’s physical infrastructure alone cannot lead to meaningful development.

Prof. Iqbal stressed that no country can achieve sustainable development without a robust education system. He pointed out that all developed nations have achieved a high literacy rate, often above 90%, and have prioritized universal primary education. In contrast, Pakistan’s fractured socio-economic platform has been a significant hurdle in its development journey. He argued that unless the economic and social foundations are aligned, Pakistan cannot achieve balanced and sustainable growth.

The Minister lamented that Pakistan’s social indicators place it among the most backward countries, despite its economic indicators suggesting membership in the lower-middle-income group. He urged that the nation’s development priorities should focus on human resource development to improve these social indicators, which are essential for long-term prosperity.

Reflecting on Pakistan’s history, Prof. Iqbal shared that political instability has repeatedly derailed the country’s development plans. He cited the example of Vision 2010, launched in 1998 as a comprehensive roadmap for development, which was abandoned after the imposition of martial law just two years later. Similarly, Vision 2025, launched in 2013, aimed to place Pakistan among the top 25 economies in the world by focusing on human development. However, political upheavals once again hindered its implementation.

Prof. Iqbal emphasized that education reforms initiated by the Ministry of Planning between 2013 and 2018 were also disrupted due to changes in government. He highlighted four key initiatives started during this period, all aimed at transforming the education system. However, these initiatives were either halted or redirected leading to a lack of continuity and progress.

Curriculum Reform

The first initiative, started in 2016, focused on curriculum reform, aiming to shift from rote memorization to fostering critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. Prof. Iqbal argued that in an era where innovation and creativity are the new currency of development, a memorization-based curriculum is inadequate.

Model Teacher Training Institute

The second initiative involved the establishment of a model teacher training institute in Islamabad, designed to improve the quality of education by training teachers in modern pedagogical methods. Unfortunately, due to capacity issues and changes in government, this project has yet to be completed. However, Prof. Iqbal expressed optimism that the institute would be operational within two years, providing state-of-the-art training to teachers.

Reform of the Examination System

The third initiative was aimed at reforming the examination system. Prof. Iqbal criticized the current system, which he described as a “printing press of numbers,” producing low-quality outcomes that do not reflect true student ability. He noted that there was significant variance in exam results across different provinces, which he stressed was detrimental to educational standards.

Prof. Iqbal also highlighted broader challenges facing Pakistan’s education sector. He highlighted the need for early childhood education, which he described as the weakest link in the country’s educational value chain. Citing global research, he emphasized that;

investment in early childhood education is the most productive investment in human capital, as it shapes cognitive abilities that are crucial for lifelong learning and success.

The Minister also raised concerns about the large number of out-of-school children in Pakistan, which he described as a national emergency. He shared a personal anecdote from 1998, when a nationwide campaign was launched to bring 100,000 children into schools. Despite initial success, the lack of infrastructure and teachers led to most of these children dropping out within three months. This, he argued, illustrates the systemic issues that need to be addressed to achieve meaningful progress.

In his address, Prof. Iqbal called for a holistic approach to education that goes beyond academics. He highlighted that education should not only prepare students for the job market but also for responsible citizenship.

Prof Iqbal stressed the importance of teaching children to recognize right from wrong, to tolerate differences, and to engage in dialogue rather than resorting to violence.

Prof. Iqbal also emphasized the need for environmental education, urging that children be taught to take ownership of their surroundings. He shared examples from other countries where students are involved in community activities like cleaning parks, which instill a sense of responsibility and civic duty from an early age.

Concluding his address, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal expressed hope that the District Education Performance Index 2023 would serve as a catalyst for national discourse on education reform. He urged the media to hold provinces accountable for their performance and to generate debate on how to improve educational outcomes across the country. He also reiterated the need for stability and continuity in policy, arguing that no reform can succeed without at least ten years of consistent implementation.

Prof. Iqbal envisions Pakistan as a one trillion-dollar economy by 2035, and among the top ten or fifteen economies by 2047, provided the country can ensure stability and focus on human development. His address was a powerful reminder that education is not just a sector but the foundation upon which the future of the nation rests.

The launch of the District Education Performance Index 2023 marks a significant step towards addressing the challenges in Pakistan’s education system. However, as Prof. Iqbal’s address highlighted, much work remains to be done. The need for comprehensive, sustained, and holistic education reform is more urgent than ever. As Pakistan strives towards its development goals, the education sector will play a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s future.