Despite numerous efforts, Pakistan’s education system continues to face considerable challenges owing to political and economic instability, outdated curricula, and inadequate infrastructure. Addressing these problems is vital for achieving socio-economic development. By adopting comprehensive reforms and modern educational practices, Pakistan can improve the quality of education and meet the demands of the current times. This will increase the literacy rates and educational outcomes and also contribute to the country’s economic stability and growth.
Pakistan Education and Research Network (PERN) is giving internet to universities, but a chunk often remains unused. It is estimated that more than 9 percent of the bandwidth remains unused. The same should be optimised for educational purpose. Most of the universities charge a library fund from the students. Very few students use libraries these days. The same fund can be spent on digital libraries, since most of the students use the internet as a source of information. Hence instead of a library fund, a technology fund or internet fund can be charged and the students can be provided internet in the universities. It is true that some students waste time on social media, but it is not the case with a majority of the students. Giving them good facilities like these will help improve learning outcomes. Some companies can also provide laptops on easy instalments.
The latest techniques and software should be taught to both the students and teachers. Research labs should be updated. The necessary software should be provided to them so as to make them able to install it on their laptops.
When students are asked about their future plans, some 1-2 percent students say that they will engage in business. The rest either wish to get abroad or do some job. We have to ask why our universities are producing only engineers or clerks – and not the innovators and the entrepreneurs with out-of-the-box solutions. Exposures should be provided to the students to interact in start-up environments. Establishing incubation centres and starting mentorship programs and increasing funding opportunities within the universities can help students to stand up in front of the societal and familial pressures of doing jobs only and start a business of their own. There is also a need of integrating skill development workshops in the curricula to enhance the essential competencies of the students.
There should be strict regulations regarding private institutes. They must be asked to reduce the tuition fee. Profit margins should be minimal so as to serve the nation better. There should be legislative measures and proper implementation in this regard. Scholarship options should be available to every student, including well-off students. This is crucial to enhance the self-respect of such students, elevate them even if they earn small scholarships, and help them become self-reliant. Therefore, competitive scholarships should be open to all.
Consultation with students, teachers, parents, and the wider school community is essential to make education inclusive and effective. There is a need to integrate continuous assessment into the education system. It greatly helps in improving students’ outcomes. Investment in education infrastructure and technology is a must to facilitate the integration of diverse assessment methods. All stakeholders must collaborate and support the transition toward a more comprehensive and inclusive assessment framework. Reforms in assessment must be introduced to prepare final-year students for dealing with the greater challenges of the modern world. Components of assessment should include evaluation methods that go beyond traditional final written exams. Consultation with the wider school community and parents is necessary to ensure that the new system meets the needs of all stakeholders.
If we take the case of three subjects—English, Mathematics, and Science—it can be said that in English, students’ communication, creativity, and analytical abilities can be gauged through written assignments. Science students can be assessed based on lab work, research projects, and group experiments, which can nurture a deep understanding of scientific inquiry and experimentation. Mathematics students can be assessed based on problem-solving skills. A smooth transition is required for the integration of diverse assessment methods. Efforts should be made toward creating a more equitable and supportive education system to enable students to prepare for the demands of the 21st century through professional training of teachers and by inculcating the ability to adapt and innovate, as these are direly needed.
When students are asked about their future plans, some 1-2 percent students say that they will engage in business. The rest either wish to get abroad or do some job
In Pakistan, unfortunately, there is a significant gender gap at higher education levels. The ratio of female students is far lower than that of male students. The recent “Gender Gap Report 2024,” in its 18th edition, ranks Pakistan 139th in the educational achievement area, down from 138th in the 2023 report. According to the report, the enrolment rate in secondary education for girls is 38%, while for boys, it is 45%. In tertiary education, the enrolment rate for girls is 12.9%, and for boys, it is 13.9% (Paradigm Shift, 2024). This gap can be bridged through various measures, such as prioritising capacity building and nurturing stakeholder ownership for implementing SDG-4 at both federal and provincial levels in Pakistan. This is all the more necessary when we consider the need to review educational policies at the higher education level in line with the expectations of the people and the socio-economic structure of the country. The entire educational system needs reorientation and reorganisation to ensure integrated and balanced development across various stages, keeping it at par with the requirements of the modern age. The need for digital literacy and higher educational standards can be addressed through internationalisation efforts, including faculty and student exchanges, joint program development, research partnerships, and university collaborations.
The quality of education needs to be enhanced to improve education in Pakistan. Building more institutions is also required to expand access for many people. Establishing more research centres to promote research is vital and the need of the hour. The UK has robust quality assurance mechanisms and partnerships with international universities, facilitated by its Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. Pakistan can ensure quality by emulating the same model. Adopting this strategy will not only increase global engagement but also enhance Pakistan’s reputation at the international level. From India, Pakistan can learn how to increase its footprint in digital learning and improve educational standards while increasing accessibility for students. In this way, it can be assured that learning outcomes are also improved.
To promote gender equity, the number of scholarships and stipends for female students at colleges and universities can be increased. Advocacy campaigns for the inclusivity of females by educating them at advanced levels can foster a healthy change, enabling them to play a proactive role in the nation-building process. An informed woman is a strong woman, which eventually leads to their empowerment.
A shift in societal values and thinking patterns regarding girls’ education is very necessary, as women constitute more than 48% of Pakistan’s population. Religious leaders and media campaigns can also play an important role in raising awareness at regional and national levels, especially in rural and underserved areas, helping to facilitate inclusive learning environments. This will also help address gender gaps and enable females to perform a participatory role in socio-economic uplift. Special training camps can be arranged in this connection.
The mindset of parents in typical households, where female education at higher stages is given little importance, needs to be reconsidered. Parental awareness workshops at the community level can help achieve this purpose. Likewise, young girls, community leaders, and educators can participate in workshops at the community level. At the institutional and district levels, teachers, education policymakers, and administrators can help increase confidence in girl students by emphasising gender equity. NGOs and CBOs (Community-Based Organisations) can also conduct door-to-door campaigns. Seminars and community-level programs can be organised. At colleges and universities, open houses, job fairs, and career counselling programs can be more girl-student-oriented to ensure their inclusivity.
Measuring gender equity initiatives through proper monitoring is also essential to achieve the desired targets. In this manner, not only can effectiveness be monitored, but essential adjustments can also be made. Moreover, there is a need to review educational policies at the higher education level in line with the expectations of the people and the socio-economic structure of the country.
There should be global partnerships. Faculty exchange programs can also serve the purpose of achieving good results for faculty development programs. Universities can offer consultancy programs and generate revenue themselves. The syllabus should be industry-driven. Synergies must be built with the industry, business, and corporate sectors. Marketing efforts have to be improved.
Our current exam system does not assess ability, critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, or creativity. Traditional exams focus on cramming, requiring students to regurgitate information under time constraints.
Proper training for online education must be ensured to enable teachers to deliver lessons effectively and allow students to benefit from modern facilities. Technical staff should be available online to assist both students and teachers.
The gap between academia and industry should be bridged, as it is crucial. Large companies in sectors such as cell phones, medicine, or marketing may significantly benefit by funding research at the PhD or master’s level. This collaboration ensures gaining insights into the market situation through research on specific topics before launching products. Development opportunities are increased in this manner, and companies can overcome issues related to their products before launch.
Overcoming language barriers is also vital. Learning a language from an institute differs significantly from the language learned from birth and childhood. Teachers must recognise the significance of the language in which students can better express themselves, and this should be focused on to enhance their participation and understanding. Exams are conducted entirely in English in almost all universities. Attention should be paid to this aspect to help students excel in their national language. It is important to balance the use of English and the national language in educational settings to make education more inclusive, accessible, and culturally relevant.
There is a need to provide opportunities for students to cultivate their passions, such as forming basketball and sports teams, societies like board game clubs, and even e-sports teams. In this way, students will be prepared for challenges beyond academics.
If a student is in need, there should be a structured way to help them. A peer mentoring system may be introduced so that everyone has someone to turn to, whether for academic help or personal advice. An anonymous support system can also be implemented so that those uncomfortable with speaking up can still receive the help they need privately, creating a safe space for everyone.
Integrating innovative approaches is essential to shape the future of students. Introducing more structured and interactive tools, such as digital apps and study resources, can help students continue learning from digital platforms and track their progress. There must be technology integration and tracking and management-driven education. Operational efficiency can be achieved through strong political will. It is crucial for educational institutions to integrate more fieldwork and practical data collection exercises into their curricula to better equip students for the demands of the workforce.
In addition, a care support system may be implemented where high-achieving students can mentor their peers, ensuring that no one gets left behind. Institutes can arrange group field trips and even outdoor classes.