Implementing reforms in education sector
The continuing negligence of the education sector in Pakistan reveals itself in several ways. The budget figures negate the claims made by successive governments regarding their concern about education. The country currently spends 1.8 pc of GDP on education as compared to Cuba spending 18.7 pc, Malaysia 8.5 pc, Israel 7.5 pc and India 4.1 pc. The negligence has produced horrendous results. Currently, 25 million children of ages 5 to 16 years are out of school. There is a big backlog of the illiterates, comprising 30 million women and 18 million men aged 15 or above. The state-run schools are in shambles. There are ‘ghost schools’ and ghost teachers’ with the money provided for them landing in the pockets of corrupt government officials or politicians. Article 25-A of the Constitution, which says that ‘the state shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age 5 to 16 years by such a manner as determined by law’, remains unimplemented. With the state increasingly withdrawing from commercial activities since 1990s many had expected that it would concentrate on the improvement of education sector. As this failed to happen the gap was filled by madrassas funded by some of the Gulf countries which were meant to raise jihadis to fight their proxy wars.
Speaking at an international conference on Saturday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif revealed his government’s plan to launch a countrywide literacy movement to ensure enrolment of every child in the school through a package of incentives. There can be no two opinions about the need for such a movement. Pakistan has an extra-large reservoir of human capital that is bound to turn into a big burden if not properly educated and trained. Good wishes however are not enough. People have in fact become increasingly cynical about the promises made by rulers, whether military of civilian.
In his address the prime minister has called for prioritising female education, effective participation of women in decision-making process and protecting their respect and dignity. In case the government is really serious, extra funds for education, particularly female education, are likely to be made available by the international community. UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Education Gordon Brown on Saturday announced that the international community would offer about $1 billion for education in Pakistan over the next three to four years. What the international community wants in return is that Pakistan abides by the international conventions, which is a reasonable demand. As Brown pointed out, instances of child marriage, child labour and gender discrimination have to end. To ensure international cooperation in education Sharif will have to reign in the Council of Islamic Ideology which claims it can override UN conventions in the name of religion. The question is: will he?
