[PICTURES/VIDOES] Pakistan Education System vs Education Systems in other developed countries!

[rockyboy2018]

Hello Guys,

This question is basically tailor made for those Pakistani or Indian students who finished their higher education abroad or currently doing it.

What are your thoughts when you compare Pakistani or Indian education system from primary all the way to high school then to Bachelor and Masters.

I am doing a bachelor degree in Germany. What I notice is that studies at the university level in Pakistan are very competitive and heavy on theoretical knowledge unlike in Germany it is more like applying your knowledge actively. Just passive understanding is not eneough however the course contents itself are not that difficult. Exam duration is like 1 hour 30 minutes and you do not have to solve so many questions the way we do in Pakistan on the other hand exams are like marathons. You have to apply your knowledge quickly and under time conditions. THIS IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE I NOTICED.

In terms of TEACHING, what I notice is that German professors more focus on the process than on the end destination. If you follow the process and logic, you will reach your end destination automatically. In contrast, Pakistani professors are so obsessed with having a CORRECT ANSWER from the word go.

When it comes to primary and high school education in Pakistan, all I did WAS ROTE MEMORIZATION. Just cleared the exams but no solid knowledge cemented in the brain FOREVER.

When I compare German classmates who are in their early 20s and I am in my 30s. When I compare myself with them when I was their age - I could not even speak a single English sentence never mind speaking fluent English as they do. Despite German is being their first language, They are exposed to English as early as age 4 or 5.

Your inputs, please. What differences did you notice while pursuing an education in the UK, Australia, USA or Canada, South Korea or elsewhere?

Thanks

 

[Syed1]

Studied upto high school in Pakistan and then went to Canada for degree in engineering. I did my O/A Levels which is perhaps one of the best systems out there and administered by Cambridge university. The local inter/matric system lags wayyyyyyyyyyy behind. Some YouTuber shared a video in which Sindh Board text book for grade 9 computer science was teaching what's a floppy disk what's a usb.... Pathetic.

As for engineering in Canada it had a good deal of theoretical aspect to it as well as emphasis on work experience. Alot of engineering universities here have something called a co-op program where after the first year students study one semester and work one semester and when they graduate they have about 12-16 months of experience as well as generally a ready made job offer from one of the companies they would have done their co-ops from. I have not heard about something like this in Pak.

 

[Nostalgic]

I completed my undergrad and first masters’ degree in Pakistan, and my second masters’ from the US. One massive difference was that in the US, my peers were all engineers by choice, even the international students, who in grad school are actually the majority. In Pakistan, this wasn’t necessarily so.

While my classmates in the US, especially the Americans themselves, did make the decision to pursue engineering degrees with a smidgen of pragmatism, given how it’s perceived to be a well-paying, stable, respectable career, one felt that it was also what they truly wanted to do.

In contrast, in Pakistan, at least twenty years ago and at least for us upper middle class types, it was either engineering or medicine or the military. Most of us were very reluctant students of the science, and while many did develop an interest in it or at least find aspects of it that were fulfilling enough, such reconciliation to what your career has in store for you isn’t universal. I imagine it makes for a very unenthusiastic workforce.

I hate it with a passion to this day. Today being Sunday, I’ve already got the traditional sinking feeling of dread at the prospect of work tomorrow. I’ve instructed my children to study whatever they want to: a lifetime of penury pursuing one’s passion trumps a lifetime of prosperous misery.

 

[Pakistanian]

I completed my undergrad and first masters’ degree in Pakistan, and my second masters’ from the US. One massive difference was that in the US, my peers were all engineers by choice, even the international students, who in grad school are actually the majority. In Pakistan, this wasn’t necessarily so.

While my classmates in the US, especially the Americans themselves, did make the decision to pursue engineering degrees with a smidgen of pragmatism, given how it’s perceived to be a well-paying, stable, respectable career, one felt that it was also what they truly wanted to do.

In contrast, in Pakistan, at least twenty years ago and at least for us upper middle class types, it was either engineering or medicine or the military. Most of us were very reluctant students of the science, and while many did develop an interest in it or at least find aspects of it that were fulfilling enough, such reconciliation to what your career has in store for you isn’t universal. I imagine it makes for a very unenthusiastic workforce.

I hate it with a passion to this day. Today being Sunday, I’ve already got the traditional sinking feeling of dread at the prospect of work tomorrow. I’ve instructed my children to study whatever they want to: a lifetime of penury pursuing one’s passion trumps a lifetime of prosperous misery.

I thought most people in Pakistan wanted to become accountants, or at least I was told by some Pakistanis that finance and banking are the best paying fields over there.

 

[Nostalgic]

I thought most people in Pakistan wanted to become accountants, or at least I was told by some Pakistanis that finance and banking are the best paying fields over there.

That may well be the case now for all I know. It wasn’t so back in my day.

 

[Pakistanian]

That may well be the case now for all I know. It wasn’t so back in my day.

Idk man, my uncle been in finance for the past 30 years over there and makes 7 figures a month - he says being a "chartered accountant" has always been the most prestigious profession in Pakistan after being a Doctor.

 

[WebGuru]

Education emergency: 83% of students from rural Sindh fail Karachi University's entry test

KARACHI: They may not know it, but there is an implicit promise whenever a child attends school. A promise that if he or she studies hard enough, doors to success will open on their own.

Sindh’s various education boards, it seems, have been unable to keep that promise. As the results of an entry test held by one of the country’s largest public sector universities show, not even A-1 grades are enough to secure a prosperous future for most of the province’s students.

A total of 10,119 candidates from all over the country appeared in the admission test for Karachi University’s (KU) 2020 ** programme held on November 17. Over a fifth of them, 2,453 to be exact, belonged to the ‘S’ category, meaning they completed their secondary education from a school in any district of Sindh other than Karachi.

A staggering 83 per cent of them or 2,028 applicants were unable to clear the test. More shockingly, however, over 70 per cent of ‘S’ category students with A-1 grades in their intermediate examinations and almost 84 per cent of those with A grades failed it.

In contrast, around 49 per cent of the 7,101 applicants who completed their intermediate education under the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) passed the KU entry exam. Those who failed amounted to 3,619.

Even if the overall outcome for BIEK graduates may not be quite admirable, the high achievers at least were considerably more successful compared to their counterparts from other parts of Sindh. Almost 95 per cent of BIEK applicants with A-1 grades cleared the KU test, along with around 73 per cent of those with A grades.

Applicants from the rest of Pakistan were also slightly more successful than those from Sindh, with an overall pass rate of over 27 per cent. The academic success of high achievers from the rest of Pakistan was also rather more commensurate with their entry test outcomes as 57 per cent of A-1 graders managed to pass.

Overall, around 40 per cent or 4,063 applicants were successful in clearing the KU entry test. Interestingly, this time around, the passing grade for the test was fixed at 50 per cent.

The dismal performance of Sindh board students in the KU entry exam comes at the heels of another alarming outcome in a test held by another of the country’s most prominent universities. The admission test conducted by the NED University of Engineering and Technology entry test laid bare how hollow the Sindh government’s education promises have been. No Sindh education board could muster more than a 37 per cent success rate in that test, even as the federal, Cambridge and Aga Khan boards secured more than a 70 per cent pass rate.

This year’s matriculation exams have also exposed how ill-equipped Sindh’s public schools leave their students. The results of this year’s BIEK science exam revealed only nine per cent of those who passed had studied in a government school.

Sindh educators have repeatedly blamed the dismal performance of public sector government institutes in various standardised tests and examinations on an outdated curriculum. For instance, it emerged earlier that the computer science textbooks being taught to students appearing in this year’s matric examinations.

It has also come to light, however, that the teachers at these schools themselves do not receive the level of training that they should. A recent report revealed that the authorities responsible for holding workshops and courses for public school teachers in Sindh are themselves run by unqualified staff. The situation persists even though hundreds of millions of rupees have been spent by the provincial government under pretext of training teachers.


Source: https://tribune.com.pk/story/211396...-83-students-rural-sindh-fail-***-entry-test/

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

Aur do vote PPP ko

Soye hue zameer smh.

 

[Slog]

However due to quota system these kids will get in universities anyway and the problem will be brushed under the carpet

 

[WebGuru]

Any tweet or statement from Bilawal? Or it's just another estab k saazish...

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

Surprise surprise!!!

 

[SensiblePakFan]

thats a 83% success rate for the PPP, keep the vote bank going.

 

[MenInG]

Well its producing good students so cant be all that bad. GSCE, A Level results arent that bad at all.

 

[IAJ]

The traditional political parties want an illiteral nation, do you think they have a chance to rule if the vast majority get higher education?

 

[El Generico]

Pakistani lecturer ranked among world’s top 1% computer science researchers

A Pakistani lecturer has been ranked among the top 1 per cent of most influential researchers worldwide in the field of computer science.

Dr Mubashir Husain Rehmani, a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) in Ireland, has studied from Mehran University of Engineering and Technology.

Dr Mubashir’s work focuses on wireless networks, blockchain, cognitive radio networks, and software defined networks. He has written over 100 peer-reviewed articles of which 12 feature among highly cited articles by Clarivate Analytics.

His research work has been recognised internationally and he is the recipient of several best paper awards.

The latest Highly Cited Researchers report, compiled by Clarivate Analytics, identifies researchers who demonstrated significant influence in their chosen field through the publication of multiple highly cited papers during the last decade.

The report identifies elite researchers who are tackling some of the world’s most significant challenges. This year’s list includes 26 Nobel laureates and recognises 6,400 researchers across 21 fields.

Of the world’s population of scientists and social scientists, Highly Cited Researchers represent one in 1,000.

In November, 81 Pakistani academics figured in the list of the world’s top 2 per cent scientists in a global list issued by the United States’ Stanford University.

The global list, compiled by Prof John Ioannidis and his team, carries names of 159,683 people from all scientific disciplines.

As many as 11 teachers of Islamabad’s Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) have figured among the top 2 per cent researchers. Five scientists from the University of Haripur (UoH), including its vice chancellor, are also included in the list.

More on: https://tribune.com.pk/story/227478...ong-worlds-top-1-computer-science-researchers

 

[Stewie]

I did my F.Sc from Pakistan before studying in the States in the mid 90s. It was a massive culture shock. I found certain things to be so easy I was astounded while I also struggled with a few other aspects. The system I grew up in focused on memorization and generally being good at rattling out calculations and whatnot (speaking strictly as a student of science)

But during the course of my academic career here, I realized there is a lot else goes on that makes you a better student, or a better person overall. We were hand fed certain things in Pakistan. Cramming was the best way. You were not supposed to express your own opinion or innovate in writing classes. Science and math required you to do research, reach your own conclusions rather than simply memorize equations and formulas. But for core engineering classes, the subject matter is too fast paced and once the semester is over you can simply forget what you learned and move on to the next one. That’s the part where I feel a bit of memorization or cramming actually gives you the edge.

In a nutshell, each system has their pros and cons. But overall I think our education system doesn’t need some reevaluations. We need to produce free thinkers and innovators and not mindless drones. The focus should be equally on application as theory.

 

[Mamoon]

Before people come up with the usual “Pakistani system makes you a crammer and I am too smart and too cool to cram because I like to use logic” nonsense, there is nothing particularly wrong with the Pakistani education system.

No education system is perfect, and neither is Pakistan’s, but it has produced enough brilliant people in various fields to show that the problem is not with the system itself. If you are smart and hard working, you will do well.

Regardless of the education system you are in, you have to adapt to the style. I did O Levels and then FSc because medical entrance tests are based on FSc curriculum, and I did really well in both systems not because I was sent from the heavens but because instead of moaning about the cramming style of FSc and spending my energy on finding “spelling mistakes” in FSc textbooks and then laughing, I focused on adapting my style of studying as quickly as possible.

And this wasn’t the first time either - my schooling started in a posh, international school before my parents realized it would not prepare me for life in Pakistan, so they went to the other extreme and enrolled me in an army school for 4 years (class 3 to 6) and I had a shock of my life. It was a completely different world, but I had to adapt to survive.

I went from going to a school with no uniform, no homework, no restrictions on hair length to a school where they forced me to get a ‘mushroom’ cut, do a weird military style march every morning and then get together in an assembly and sing the national anthem.

All of this was common in Pakistani schools back then but it was shock for me because I wasn’t exposed to this environment until class 2.

My point is that people who excessively moan about the Pakistani system are the ones who do not have the adaptability and work ethic to adjust to its style.

These are the same people who go to university in the U.S. or elsewhere and do some useless 101 courses that are usually a piece of cake for university-level education.

Apparently, not sure if it is true, but if you do undergrad in the U.S., you have to take some Science 101 type course where they teach you the “science” that Pakistani schools taught in 6th and 7th grades. Sounds ridiculous but I won’t be surprised if it is true.

As far as cramming is concerned, at some point, you cannot avoid cramming certain things. No one can fully understand everything and you have to make peace with it and move on.

Some professions/fields also require a tremendous amount of cramming regardless of whether it is the Pakistani or the U.S. system, for example medicine and law.

My advice to anyone in this thread who is going to school/college/university in Pakistan right now is stop worrying and complaining about the problems with the Pakistani education system and focus on adapting yourself to the system.

 

[Yossarian]

My understanding is that the Bachelor level degree in the UK is at a far higher level than it's counterparts in the USA or Pakistan, primarily because you are already 'specialising' to a much greater extent. UK 'A' Levels are closer to the Bachelors degrees in the USA / Pakistan.

 

[Yossarian]

For example, for medicine, in the UK, you start directly after finishing high school, while in the USA you start after completing a degree.

 

[Mamoon]

For example, for medicine, in the UK, you start directly after finishing high school, while in the USA you start after completing a degree.

It is the same in Pakistan. That is why a lot of Pakistani Americans come to Pakistan for their MBBS before going back to the U.S. because the process is way longer there.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

My understanding is that the Bachelor level degree in the UK is at a far higher level than it's counterparts in the USA or Pakistan, primarily because you are already 'specialising' to a much greater extent. UK 'A' Levels are closer to the Bachelors degrees in the USA / Pakistan.

No its not. At least not in the US. A levels are done by high school students. US also has various exams done by high schools students such as SAT subject tests, AP Exams, state tests, etc.

A levels might be harder than the US exams, but its not the equivalent of a Bachelor degree.

For example, for medicine, in the UK, you start directly after finishing high school, while in the USA you start after completing a degree.

Yes thats because they want to squeeze money out of people here, not because students cant handle medical school after High School. I know plenty of kids who did high school in the US, then went to medical school in Pakistan.

 

[Yossarian]

It is the same in Pakistan. That is why a lot of Pakistani Americans come to Pakistan for their MBBS before going back to the U.S. because the process is way longer there.

Nevertheless, in general, a UK Bachelors degree is seen as being at a much higher level than it's US counterparts, which are more generic, less specialised, and more akin to UK 'A' levels.

However, from postgraduate level upwards, the equilibrium is restored, and they are both at a similar level.

 

[Yossarian]

Yes thats because they want to squeeze money out of people here, not because students cant handle medical school after High School. I know plenty of kids who did high school in the US, then went to medical school in Pakistan.

But not to the UK

 

[Yossarian]

A levels might be harder than the US exams, but its not the equivalent of a Bachelor degree.


.

I didn't say equivalent. I said closer.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Nevertheless, in general, a UK Bachelors degree is seen as being at a much higher level than it's US counterparts, which are more generic, less specialised, and more akin to UK 'A' levels.

However, from postgraduate level upwards, the equilibrium is restored, and they are both at a similar level.

By whom? UK people? In the US no one would consider a UK bachelors degree as higher than a US one.

US is generally regarded as having the best college education in the world. Thats why people from other countries come to the US. Like if you would look at worldwide rankings of universities, US ones are normally the highest ranked.

I didn't say equivalent. I said closer.

Yea i dont think A levels is anywhere close to a Bachelors degree. If anything its close to the exams that US high school students take. The A levels might be harder than the exams students take here. But thats all that it is, exams that high school students take to get into university.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Before people come up with the usual “Pakistani system makes you a crammer and I am too smart and too cool to cram because I like to use logic” nonsense, there is nothing particularly wrong with the Pakistani education system.

No education system is perfect, and neither is Pakistan’s, but it has produced enough brilliant people in various fields to show that the problem is not with the system itself. If you are smart and hard working, you will do well.

Regardless of the education system you are in, you have to adapt to the style. I did O Levels and then FSc because medical entrance tests are based on FSc curriculum, and I did really well in both systems not because I was sent from the heavens but because instead of moaning about the cramming style of FSc and spending my energy on finding “spelling mistakes” in FSc textbooks and then laughing, I focused on adapting my style of studying as quickly as possible.

And this wasn’t the first time either - my schooling started in a posh, international school before my parents realized it would not prepare me for life in Pakistan, so they went to the other extreme and enrolled me in an army school for 4 years (class 3 to 6) and I had a shock of my life. It was a completely different world, but I had to adapt to survive.

I went from going to a school with no uniform, no homework, no restrictions on hair length to a school where they forced me to get a ‘mushroom’ cut, do a weird military style march every morning and then get together in an assembly and sing the national anthem.

All of this was common in Pakistani schools back then but it was shock for me because I wasn’t exposed to this environment until class 2.

My point is that people who excessively moan about the Pakistani system are the ones who do not have the adaptability and work ethic to adjust to its style.

These are the same people who go to university in the U.S. or elsewhere and do some useless 101 courses that are usually a piece of cake for university-level education.

Apparently, not sure if it is true, but if you do undergrad in the U.S., you have to take some Science 101 type course where they teach you the “science” that Pakistani schools taught in 6th and 7th grades. Sounds ridiculous but I won’t be surprised if it is true.

As far as cramming is concerned, at some point, you cannot avoid cramming certain things. No one can fully understand everything and you have to make peace with it and move on.

Some professions/fields also require a tremendous amount of cramming regardless of whether it is the Pakistani or the U.S. system, for example medicine and law.

My advice to anyone in this thread who is going to school/college/university in Pakistan right now is stop worrying and complaining about the problems with the Pakistani education system and focus on adapting yourself to the system.

As someone doing his undergrad in the US, that is not true.

Further, you being someone who did O Levels rather than Metric, are probably not best-placed to make an argument about adaptability. Your formative years employed an excellent curriculum and probably decent teaching.

Generally speaking, you are right that it is important to adapt to the system you are in, but it does not mean some systems are not more equal than others.

O and A Levels in Pakistan are in my opinion far ahead of the highschool system. Metric is far behind. Fsc is solid.

And then you have madrassas.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

By whom? UK people? In the US no one would consider a UK bachelors degree as higher than a US one.

US is generally regarded as having the best college education in the world. Thats why people from other countries come to the US. Like if you would look at worldwide rankings of universities, US ones are normally the highest ranked.



Yea i dont think A levels is anywhere close to a Bachelors degree. If anything its close to the exams that US high school students take. The A levels might be harder than the exams students take here. But thats all that it is, exams that high school students take to get into university.

If you have completed your A Levels, you will have generally completed the first year’s worth of instruction at US colleges for a Bachelor’s degree. If you are interested in medicine, you will already be ahead of your peers. That’s why in the US you need to do 4 years of “pre-med” before applying to med school - in Pakistan, you apply straight to Aga Khan or King Edwards, or wherever else your dream medical college is. Specifically, I’m referring to A2 level biology and chemistry.

Personally, I did further mathematics in my A levels and came into college ahead of my US peers in linear algebra etc except for those who came from an IB system, who too were either on par or slightly behind.

Our A levels instruction in World History, Literature Art etc is also far ahead of the typical highschool system - I know more about US history than many of my American friends here.

However, I am lucky to have gone to a good school or even to have had A levels offered to me - most of Pakistan does not fare similarly and that’s where the education system needs an overhaul.

 

[Mamoon]

As someone doing his undergrad in the US, that is not true.

Further, you being someone who did O Levels rather than Metric, are probably not best-placed to make an argument about adaptability. Your formative years employed an excellent curriculum and probably decent teaching.

Generally speaking, you are right that it is important to adapt to the system you are in, but it does not mean some systems are not more equal than others.

O and A Levels in Pakistan are in my opinion far ahead of the highschool system. Metric is far behind. Fsc is solid.

And then you have madrassas.

O Levels and Matric are 9th and 10th. I wouldn’t necessarily call them “formative” years because the foundation of your schooling is established before that.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Personally, I did further mathematics in my A levels and came into college ahead of my US peers in linear algebra etc except for those who came from an IB system, who too were either on par or slightly behind.

Our A levels instruction in World History, Literature Art etc is also far ahead of the typical highschool system - I know more about US history than many of my American friends here.

However, I am lucky to have gone to a good school or even to have had A levels offered to me - most of Pakistan does not fare similarly and that’s where the education system needs an overhaul.

Did your US friends go to top tier private schools? I would say most likely not. Did you go top tier private schools in Pakistan? I would say most likely yes.

So you are not doing an apples to apples comparasion. Compare yourself to the US students who went to those elite 50k per year private schools. And then see how ahead you are.

If you have completed your A Levels, you will have generally completed the first year’s worth of instruction at US colleges for a Bachelor’s degree. If you are interested in medicine, you will already be ahead of your peers. That’s why in the US you need to do 4 years of “pre-med” before applying to med school - in Pakistan, you apply straight to Aga Khan or King Edwards, or wherever else your dream medical college is. Specifically, I’m referring to A2 level biology and chemistry.

The majority of classes you take in undergraduate have nothing to do with medicine. Thats why it takes 4 years. If you only count the science classes, then that might be one year. So it comes out the same. 5 year of medical school in Pakistan and 4 years in US, plus the one year of science classes.

 

[Yossarian]

By whom? UK people? In the US no one would consider a UK bachelors degree as higher than a US one.

US is generally regarded as having the best college education in the world. Thats why people from other countries come to the US. Like if you would look at worldwide rankings of universities, US ones are normally the highest ranked.



Yea i dont think A levels is anywhere close to a Bachelors degree. If anything its close to the exams that US high school students take. The A levels might be harder than the exams students take here. But thats all that it is, exams that high school students take to get into university.

And yet you say:

Yes thats because they want to squeeze money out of people here, not because students cant handle medical school after High School. I know plenty of kids who did high school in the US, then went to medical school in Pakistan

Anyway, you obviously don't know much about the UK education system, so I will leave it there. And oh, before you say the same about me vis-a-vis the USA, I lived/worked in the USA for a number of years before moving back to the UK.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Did your US friends go to top tier private schools? I would say most likely not. Did you go top tier private schools in Pakistan? I would say most likely yes.

So you are not doing an apples to apples comparasion. Compare yourself to the US students who went to those elite 50k per year private schools. And then see how ahead you are.



The majority of classes you take in undergraduate have nothing to do with medicine. Thats why it takes 4 years. If you only count the science classes, then that might be one year. So it comes out the same. 5 year of medical school in Pakistan and 4 years in US, plus the one year of science classes.

I go to a pretty esteemed college, and have interacted with many Americans who have excellent educational backgrounds. I do genuinely think I would take the O/A Level system over the highschool/AP system. I rate IB as the best system amongst all though. (Not the second-rate IB implemented in Pakistani schools these days)

And yeah I agree about the majority of classes in undergrad for pre-meds having nothing to do with medicine. But even if you subtract that, and take an average 18 year old freshman in the US vs an average 18 year old 1st year at a Pakistani medical college, the Pakistani will have a stronger foundation in biology and chemistry especially if they have an A Level background.

I’m not even doing medicine and I would sometimes help out some pre-med friends during my 1st year with organic chemistry that I studied in A Levels.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

And yet you say:

Anyway, you obviously don't know much about the UK education system, so I will leave it there. And oh, before you say the same about me vis-a-vis the USA, I lived/worked in the USA for a number of years before moving back to the UK.

They went to Pakistan, as it is very hard to get into medical school in the US.


As far as UK education system is concerned, i have alot of family there. Must have over 2 dozen cousins at least who have done education in the UK. So this arrogance of UK being better than the US i am not buying it.

 

[Yossarian]

They went to Pakistan, as it is very hard to get into medical school in the US.


As far as UK education system is concerned, i have alot of family there. Must have over 2 dozen cousins at least who have done education in the UK. So this arrogance of UK being better than the US i am not buying it.

Of course you do.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Of course you do.

I have approximarely 250 first and second cousins. All over the world. Some of us have big families.

 

[Giannis]

For example, for medicine, in the UK, you start directly after finishing high school, while in the USA you start after completing a degree.

Getting into med school in America is A LOT harder than in the UK; the reason why you need to get a bachelors to apply is because they only want the best of the best and admission isn't just based off GPA but MCAT scores, extracurricular, clinical and nonclinical volunteer hours (>2000 hours), recommendation letters (at least 3), personal statement and the interview process, it's very rigorous. I know people that chose to study medicine in the UK after getting rejected from US MD schools. They want someone that's well rounded while in the UK it's just based off grades you get in high school lol.

 

[Giannis]

People are seriously comparing elite private schools in Pakistan where a fraction of the population of the study vs the public school system in America that is accessible to every resident. Also school isn't just for education, Americans schools also excel in sports and developing social skills, the education systems in Asia are entirely focused on textbooks and standardized testing. In the west, especially in North America the schools give a lot of independence to their students while in Pakistan they get treated like babies and are dictated to do, not only at the school level but even at universities, I was reading about students being beaten up and their cell phones confiscated at a medical school in Lahore - these a grown adults 18+. Yet in America you have 16 year olds with the confidence that even 26 year olds in Pakistan/India don't have.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

I go to a pretty esteemed college, and have interacted with many Americans who have excellent educational backgrounds. I do genuinely think I would take the O/A Level system over the highschool/AP system. I rate IB as the best system amongst all though. (Not the second-rate IB implemented in Pakistani schools these days)

And yeah I agree about the majority of classes in undergrad for pre-meds having nothing to do with medicine. But even if you subtract that, and take an average 18 year old freshman in the US vs an average 18 year old 1st year at a Pakistani medical college, the Pakistani will have a stronger foundation in biology and chemistry especially if they have an A Level background.

I’m not even doing medicine and I would sometimes help out some pre-med friends during my 1st year with organic chemistry that I studied in A Levels.

Most likely those pre-med friends wont make it to medical school. Majority of pre-meds dont.

Anyway i dont object to the statement that A levels are harder than AP. Just the idea that A levels are closer to the US Bachelors degree.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

People are seriously comparing elite private schools in Pakistan where a fraction of the population of the study vs the public school system in America that is accessible to every resident. Also school isn't just for education, Americans schools also excel in sports and developing social skills, the education systems in Asia are entirely focused on textbooks and standardized testing. In the west, especially in North America the schools give a lot of independence to their students while in Pakistan they get treated like babies and are dictated to do, not only at the school level but even at universities, I was reading about students being beaten up and their cell phones confiscated at a medical school in Lahore - these a grown adults 18+. Yet in America you have 16 year olds with the confidence that even 26 year olds in Pakistan/India don't have.

Which is why most innovation happens in the West.

 

[Giannis]

Also the amount of child abuse and corporal punishment in Pakistani/Asian school is APPALLING. Physical and psychological abuse is rampant in the Pakistani education system. So anyone concerned for their child's welfare and confidence shouldn't advocate for such a system.

 

[passionatelypakistani]

It is the same in Pakistan. That is why a lot of Pakistani Americans come to Pakistan for their MBBS before going back to the U.S. because the process is way longer there.

That's the route I took. I was born in Pakistan, moved to Florida when I was 9, and came back to Pakistan this year for my MBBS before I eventually move back to the United States.

MBBS here is a 5-year long process, much shorter than the 8 year long Pre-Med (undergrad) and College of Medicine (grad) route. Also saved my family a ton of student tuition.

 

[Mamoon]

That's the route I took. I was born in Pakistan, moved to Florida when I was 9, and came back to Pakistan this year for my MBBS before I eventually move back to the United States.

MBBS here is a 5-year long process, much shorter than the 8 year long Pre-Med (undergrad) and College of Medicine (grad) route. Also saved my family a ton of student tuition.

Which medical college are you in enrolled in?

 

[passionatelypakistani]

Which medical college are you in enrolled in?

DOW International Medical College in Karachi. The new DOW campus was established in 2005.

 

[Mamoon]

DOW International Medical College in Karachi. The new DOW campus was established in 2005.

Very good. Dow is one of the best in Pakistan.

 

[from_da_lost_dim3nsion]

I thought most people in Pakistan wanted to become accountants, or at least I was told by some Pakistanis that finance and banking are the best paying fields over there.

Nah , It was always Dcataar yaa Engineer .

 

[saeedhk]

Pakistan’s education system is dysfunctional, poor and archaic. Public schools in Pakistan are epicentres of incompetency, superstitions, and poor quality of teaching of learning.

Teachers are untrained and unqualified and half of them do not show up to work. Education infrastructure is lacking too : public schools do not have boundary walls, toilets, furniture and computers or drinking water.

I have had the misfortune of meeting people who had finished grade 10 and grade 12 from Pakistan and they knew absolutely nothing!

 

[Yossarian]

Getting into med school in America is A LOT harder than in the UK;

Of course, of course.
Do you even know how the UK university system works? Unlike the USA, which is a mish mash of everything from elite universities charging very high fees, all the way to private colleges and universities whose primary objective is to make money for it's owners/shareholders, and everything in between.
I've know of private US colleges that hand out degrees to foreign students, especially those from the Middle East, who hardly attended classes, for fear that if they didn't, the students will go back to their own countries claiming bias against Arab students, thus drying up the stream of new, high fee paying, students from these countries.
The bottom line of the US higher education system is money, money, money.

 

[saeedhk]

In Hong Kong, UK secondary school qualifications - GCSE and A-Levels are regarded as being too easy.

According to a benchmark study, a grade ‘A’ in the UK A-Levels is regarded as being equivalent to a grade ‘C’ in the HK A-Levels.

A grade ‘B’ in the UK A-Levels is regarded as a grade ‘D’ in Hong Kong A-Levels.

There is a difference of two letter grades between the two examination systems.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Persistent lethargy, aching joints, and a weakened memory is a reality many low-income schoolchildren in Sindh routinely face and their plight has been exacerbated by the government shutting down the free basic screenings for nutritional deficiencies and early onset diseases.

Despite the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) globally declaring the provision of fundamental healthcare in schools a primary health goal, government schools across Sindh have abolished the School Health Service Program.

It is pertinent to mention that the School Health Services Program was initiated in 1987, under which unemployed doctors were recruited in government schools for offering basic health facilities, including deficiency screenings, dental check-ups, and early-stage disease diagnosis. Under the program children were also given the smallpox vaccination in schools and essential supplements were also provided free of cost to children suffering from the vitamin-A deficiency.

“Almost 1,500 students were examined by each doctor under the School Health Services Program which offered basic health and check-up facilities in schools to students from primary to matric. Health cards were also issued to the students for the first time under this program,” informed Dr Asif Zaman, the former deputy project director of the program.

The closure of the program has hit parents hard. Javed Alam, a father from Liaquatabad, shared his struggle affording regular health checkups for his children after the government abolished free health services in schools. “As the weather has started to change, our children are increasingly affected by the common cold and flu. However, they can no longer receive a diagnosis and treatment at school due to which we have to bear the additional expenditure on doctor consultation and medicines. Since most doctors readily prescribe antibiotics in case of any illness, a week’s course costs us almost Rs1,000 per child,” deplored Alam.

While parents now look for alternatives to the program, as per various health department sources familiar with the matter the high prevalence of nepotism in the appointments of doctors in the School Health Service Program alongside the consistent absence of medical staff from duty had come under severe criticism, resulting in the termination of the project and the transfer of 423 doctors to different hospitals by the Health Department of Sindh.

"School health services was abolished after unfair appointments of doctors on the basis of political influence gradually reduced its effectiveness,” concurred Dr Shahnaz, a retired lady doctor at the School Health Services Program, who worried for the overall wellbeing of children that will no longer receive mandatory screenings for nutritive deficiencies.

Sharing Dr Shahnaz’s sentiments, nutritionists like Azra Rasool stress the importance of diagnosing nutritional deficiencies in children, which can hamper their mental development and academic potential. “Iron deficiency and protein deficiency compromise the cognitive and immune functioning of children, due to which they are unable to focus on their studies and excel academically,” elucidated Rasool. In an attempt to inquire about the closure of the program, the Express Tribune contacted the provincial Minister of Health but did not hear back from him.

Source: Express Tribune

Schoolchildren paying price for nepotism | The Express Tribune

School Health Services Program was initiated in 1987

t.co

 

[FearlessRoar]

The education system in Pakistan is one of the worst globally due to inadequate infrastructure, and lack of qualified teachers.

 

[FearlessRoar]

In 2010, a government boys’ primary school in the Dir Upper district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was devastated by flash floods, leaving it in ruins.

Despite the passage of 13 years, the Government Primary School in Barkand still awaits rehabilitation, leaving hundreds of students exposed to the harsh elements of the mountainous district.

Local residents, including Malik Jan, Malik Bahader, Khizar Bacha, Munawar Khan, Imran Gul, and others, have expressed their frustration, highlighting the dire situation faced by the school.

They informed The Express Tribune that although the Al-khidmat Foundation took initiative to construct a temporary one-room structure after the floods, and one old room managed to survive, the school has remained without a proper building for over a decade.

Currently, there are only two rooms available, which is insufficient to accommodate the more than 400 students. Consequently, the children are compelled to endure the extremes of weather, sitting under the open sky during the harsh winters and scorching sun.

Teachers conduct classes outdoors, and the lack of adequate space also hampers the staff, as the room constructed by Al-Khidmat was only meant to serve as a temporary arrangement.

Local elders have tirelessly attempted to draw attention to this pressing issue, engaging with authorities multiple times to no avail. Frustrated with the lack of progress, the elders and residents have now decided to stage a sit-in outside the education office.

The community’s plea is straightforward: additional rooms need to be constructed to augment the existing two-room building, ensuring that each class has a dedicated classroom.

Moreover, urgent measures are needed to provide proper furniture for the students, creating a conducive learning environment that aligns with their right to education.

Source: Express Tribune

Mountainside school a picture of neglect | The Express Tribune

Dir’s flood-ravaged school awaits rehab 13 years on

tribune.com.pk

 

[FearlessRoar]

It's sad to see that we're not doing enough to improve our schools. If we don't focus on fixing these basic problems, it's hard to know when our country will make real progress.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Girls’ education : Demand surges for female teachers

Just a decade ago, in the Mohmand tribal district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the government initiated several awareness campaigns to persuade parents to send their girls to schools.

Unfortunately, these efforts faced limited success as tribal traditions and customs proved to be significant obstacles, despite incentives such as offering food packages to families for each girl enrolled in school.

At that time, tribal elders and religious scholars played a pivotal role in discouraging girls’ education. However, in a noteworthy transformation, tribesmen have now taken to the streets, protesting against the lack of teachers, proper school buildings, and essential facilities in girls’ schools.

The demand is explicit: they seek the appointment of more female teachers in the remote areas of Mohmand to ensure quality education for their girls. Regrettably, the government has been unable to meet these demands effectively.

This challenging situation has led girl students to stage protests outside their school buildings, bringing attention to the insufficient number of teachers. Social media has become their primary tool, with images and videos shared online and subsequently picked up by mainstream media.

In Tehsil Ambar of Mohmand district, with a population of 62,109 according to the 2017 census, the Otman Khel sub-clan of Mohmands faces challenges despite the region’s mineral wealth and agricultural opportunities. Locals frequently protest the lack of facilities, particularly the scarcity of female teachers.

Luqman, a resident, lamented the presence of only two schools—primary and middle—in the entire tehsil, with teachers often neglecting their responsibilities.

Efforts to engage education officials and the district administration proved futile, leading to a grassroots protest documented on social media.

This garnered the attention of mainstream media, compelling the education department to promptly appoint two female teachers.

While tribal Jirgas once vehemently opposed girls’ education, recent events indicate a shift in perception.

A Jirga in Tehsil Hamlimzai’s village Shah Baig expressed deep concern over the absence of educational institutes in 12 villages, highlighting the government’s failure to meet repeated demands. The elders noted the lack of local girls’ schools, emphasizing the pressing need for education facilities.

In Safi’s Shawa Farsh, the scarcity of teachers remains a critical issue, with only one teacher for 200 girls. Parents lamented that locally recruited teachers are often transferred elsewhere due to the influence of influential individuals.

District Education Officer Mohmand, Zubaida Khattak, acknowledged the shortage of female teachers and expressed commitment to addressing the challenge.

The stark reality is that just having natural resources and an agricultural base has failed to improve the lives of the majority of the residents.

Tribesmen, who were once at the forefront of opposing girls’ education, are now demanding more educational opportunities for their daughters. It’s a poignant testament to the evolving dynamics in the region, where the struggle for education has shifted from convincing parents to send their girls to school to addressing systemic issues of teacher shortages and inadequate facilities.

Express Tribune

Girls’ education : Demand surges for female teachers | The Express Tribune

Mohmand elders, once against girls’ education, now demand more schools

tribune.com.pk

 

[FearlessRoar]

Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the education department to reopen the government schools that had been closed due to the lack of necessary resources within two months, ARY News reported.

The Sindh High Court (SHC) in Karachi has given a directive to the education department to reopen government schools that were closed due to a lack of necessary resources within the next two months.

This decision came after Justice Salahuddin from the SHC issued a detailed report highlighting the concerning state of government schools in the province.

According to the report, judicial magistrates visited 19 different districts in Sindh and discovered that 2,640 schools were closed because they lacked essential resources such as teachers and furniture.

The report revealed that the Sanghar district was identified as the most affected, with 438 nonfunctional government schools.

Meanwhile, other districts facing school closures include Kandhkot Kashmore (135 schools), Jamshoro (109 schools), Tando Mohammad Khan (85 schools), Dadu (45 schools), and Mehar (21 schools). Jacobabad reported 162 closed schools.

The report also revealed that 12 out of 06 girls’ schools in Tando Mohammad Khan were completely shut down, while in Umerkot, 304 schools were closed, and 12 schools were found to have fake records.

A shortage of teachers was cited as the reason for the closure of 72 schools in Shaheed Benazirabad, while 181 schools were nonfunctional in Mithi. Thatta reported 254 closed schools, and Mirpur Sakro had 90 shut down.

Additionally, 109 schools, including 28 girls’ schools, were closed in Hyderabad.

In other districts, there were 33 closed schools in Tando Allahyar, 77 in Shikarpur, 27 in Larkana, 121 in Matiari, 182 in Ghotki, 161 in Naushehra Feroze, and 185 in Qamber Shahdadkot.

The SHC directed the education department to reopen the schools and submit a compliance report within two months.

Source: ARY

SHC orders reopening of 2,640 govt schools in Sindh

KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the education department to reopen the government schools that had been closed due to the lack of necessary

arynews.tv

 

[FearlessRoar]

See how rural this government school in interior Sindh looks.

 

[Major]

There is a difference between School education and Bachelors education of Pakistan.

Some folks here who did High school in Pakistan and Bachelors abroad are making some ridiculous comparisons.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Stupidity and shows what we think of education

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Stupidity and shows what we think of education

These commissioners themselves need some sort of education so that they can make better decisions in favor of the public.

 

[BouncerGuy]

PM declares ‘education emergency’ to enrol 26m out-of-school children

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday declared an “education emergency” across Pakistan to enrol around 26 million out-of-school children and promote literacy to regain the country's lost ground and develop it as one of the most educated societies in the world.

“Today, with firm conviction and the support of provinces, we will address the challenge of 26 million out-of-school children. We will bring them back to school. I declare an education emergency throughout Pakistan from this moment onwards. As we did in Punjab, we will replicate it across Pakistan,” the prime minister said, addressing the National Conference on Education Emergency.

He informed the gathering of federal ministers, parliamentarians, vice-chancellors, diplomats, and development partners that he would personally oversee the programme, meeting with all chief ministers regardless of political affiliations, with the vision to march forward together, expressing hope that the provinces would also lend their support.

“This concerns our children and our future… This is undeniably a daunting task. However, nations that have faced challenges and setbacks in the past have risen from adversity. Germany and Japan are prime examples. Why not Pakistan? I assure you, if we unite to reclaim our position, Pakistan will emerge as one of the most educated societies,” he remarked.

The prime minister, recounting the achievements of the Punjab government during his tenure as chief minister, highlighted the increased enrolment rates, particularly for girls, through initiatives like the Zevar Taleem Programme, and the rescue of 90,000 boys from brick kilns to enrol them in schools.

He also mentioned the outsourcing of 10,000 poorly performing schools to improve educational quality and the establishment of Daanish Schools, which offered free high-quality education and boarding for underprivileged children.

He said that the Punjab Education Endowment Fund provided scholarships to hundreds of thousands of deserving students based on merit.

The prime minister stated that the enrolment of 26 million out-of-school children and addressing stunted growth were major challenges facing Pakistan, requiring significant financial resources. “But the real challenge lies in the determination to act,” he commented, recalling Islamabad’s commitment to becoming a nuclear power despite international pressure, and the elimination of terrorism by sacrificing around 80,000 lives to establish peace in the country and globally.

In his address, Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that the education sector required immediate action and urgent responses as Pakistan stood at a critical juncture with no room for failure. “The education statistics in Pakistan are concerning, alarming, and disheartening. More than 26 million children are out of school. This number exceeds the population of 150 countries worldwide,” he remarked.

UNICEF representative in Pakistan Abdullah A. Fadil stated that over 70 per cent of 10-year-old children in Pakistan could not read or comprehend text. Despite constitutional guarantees, education in Pakistan was neither compulsory nor free, he added.

He emphasised that through increased investment in education and young people, Pakistan could regain its former standing, highlighting that the country boasted the first Nobel Laureate in Physics and had recently launched a space mission to the moon.

British High Commissioner in Islamabad Jane Marriott noted that with 60 per cent of the population under 30 years of age, Pakistan was at a crucial juncture, facing tough decisions.

She stated that the conference called for urgent measures such as increased funding, inclusivity, multiple shifts in schools, and retention of children, assuring her country’s full cooperation in achieving these goals.

World Food Programme Country Director Coco Ushiyama, in her video message, emphasised that food security and education were intertwined, with school meals being one of the best programmes to invest in the country’s future.

World Bank Vice President Martin Raiser noted that Pakistan faced the challenge of 40 per cent of children experiencing stunted growth, rising to around 60 per cent in poor districts.

He commended the prime minister for taking on the challenge of out-of-school children and suggested that the government hold absent teachers accountable, and provide public transport, safe roads, toilets, and electricity in schools to enhance enrolment.

He stressed that since Pakistan’s education system was vulnerable to climate change, investing in climate resilience was imperative.

Pakistan’s fastest mountaineer Naila Kiani, in her video message from Makalu Mountain, attributed her success to self-belief and education. She urged the prime minister and chief ministers to allocate more resources for girls’ education to help them realise their dreams.

SOURCE: EXPRESS TRIBUNE

 

[BouncerGuy]

PM declares ‘education emergency’ to enrol 26m out-of-school children

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday declared an “education emergency” across Pakistan to enrol around 26 million out-of-school children and promote literacy to regain the country's lost ground and develop it as one of the most educated societies in the world.

“Today, with firm conviction and the support of provinces, we will address the challenge of 26 million out-of-school children. We will bring them back to school. I declare an education emergency throughout Pakistan from this moment onwards. As we did in Punjab, we will replicate it across Pakistan,” the prime minister said, addressing the National Conference on Education Emergency.

He informed the gathering of federal ministers, parliamentarians, vice-chancellors, diplomats, and development partners that he would personally oversee the programme, meeting with all chief ministers regardless of political affiliations, with the vision to march forward together, expressing hope that the provinces would also lend their support.

“This concerns our children and our future… This is undeniably a daunting task. However, nations that have faced challenges and setbacks in the past have risen from adversity. Germany and Japan are prime examples. Why not Pakistan? I assure you, if we unite to reclaim our position, Pakistan will emerge as one of the most educated societies,” he remarked.

The prime minister, recounting the achievements of the Punjab government during his tenure as chief minister, highlighted the increased enrolment rates, particularly for girls, through initiatives like the Zevar Taleem Programme, and the rescue of 90,000 boys from brick kilns to enrol them in schools.

He also mentioned the outsourcing of 10,000 poorly performing schools to improve educational quality and the establishment of Daanish Schools, which offered free high-quality education and boarding for underprivileged children.

He said that the Punjab Education Endowment Fund provided scholarships to hundreds of thousands of deserving students based on merit.

The prime minister stated that the enrolment of 26 million out-of-school children and addressing stunted growth were major challenges facing Pakistan, requiring significant financial resources. “But the real challenge lies in the determination to act,” he commented, recalling Islamabad’s commitment to becoming a nuclear power despite international pressure, and the elimination of terrorism by sacrificing around 80,000 lives to establish peace in the country and globally.

In his address, Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that the education sector required immediate action and urgent responses as Pakistan stood at a critical juncture with no room for failure. “The education statistics in Pakistan are concerning, alarming, and disheartening. More than 26 million children are out of school. This number exceeds the population of 150 countries worldwide,” he remarked.

UNICEF representative in Pakistan Abdullah A. Fadil stated that over 70 per cent of 10-year-old children in Pakistan could not read or comprehend text. Despite constitutional guarantees, education in Pakistan was neither compulsory nor free, he added.

He emphasised that through increased investment in education and young people, Pakistan could regain its former standing, highlighting that the country boasted the first Nobel Laureate in Physics and had recently launched a space mission to the moon.

British High Commissioner in Islamabad Jane Marriott noted that with 60 per cent of the population under 30 years of age, Pakistan was at a crucial juncture, facing tough decisions.

She stated that the conference called for urgent measures such as increased funding, inclusivity, multiple shifts in schools, and retention of children, assuring her country’s full cooperation in achieving these goals.

World Food Programme Country Director Coco Ushiyama, in her video message, emphasised that food security and education were intertwined, with school meals being one of the best programmes to invest in the country’s future.

World Bank Vice President Martin Raiser noted that Pakistan faced the challenge of 40 per cent of children experiencing stunted growth, rising to around 60 per cent in poor districts.

He commended the prime minister for taking on the challenge of out-of-school children and suggested that the government hold absent teachers accountable, and provide public transport, safe roads, toilets, and electricity in schools to enhance enrolment.

He stressed that since Pakistan’s education system was vulnerable to climate change, investing in climate resilience was imperative.

Pakistan’s fastest mountaineer Naila Kiani, in her video message from Makalu Mountain, attributed her success to self-belief and education. She urged the prime minister and chief ministers to allocate more resources for girls’ education to help them realise their dreams.

SOURCE: EXPRESS TRIBUNE

This is why PM Shehbaz has announced an education emergency?

To bring children to schools to get beaten like animals. Whoever is this guy, beating children like this should be punished in the same way. This atrocity is that it happening while the AZAN is on and we call ourselves Muslims.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1788065475693617514

 

[BouncerGuy]

HEC opposes admission of pre-med students in engineering varsities

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has opposed the decision of Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) allowing pre-medical students to take admission in engineering universities.

According to HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, the council's decision is unclear and raises questions about the education policy under which pre-medical students are being declared eligible for admission in the engineering universities.

Dr Ahmed expressed his concerns in a conversation with The Express Tribune, stating that the HEC was not taken into confidence regarding this decision. He emphasised that the procedure for changing this policy should be fully explained and clarified.

Dr Mukhtar Ahmed expressed surprise over the PEC's decision. He questioned the rationale behind changing the policy, suggesting that it was solely driven by low admissions in engineering universities. "No one becomes an expert in maths in eight weeks."

He also argued that if options are being opened up for pre-medical students, then other fields like information technology should also be considered.

The HEC chairman reiterated that his commission was not consulted about this decision and plans to meet relevant stakeholders and the vice-chancellor on Thursday to understand the logic behind it.

NED University VC Dr Sarosh Lodi expressed strong opposition to the Pakistan Engineering Council's (PEC) decision to allow pre-medical students to pursue engineering courses.

Talking to The Express Tribune, he stated that pre-medical students lack the necessary foundation in subjects like calculus, which is crucial for engineering. He believes that eight weeks of condensed courses are insufficient to bridge this gap.

Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) Chairman Engineer Najeeb Haroon explained that the council has permitted FSc pass students of pre-medical subjects to take admission to the BS Engineering programme. This decision was made in response to a significant decrease in admissions in the engineering sector. To be eligible for admission to the engineering programme, pre-medical students must first complete an eight-week condensed programme to make up for curriculum deficiencies such as mathematics.

Haroon explained that the council has taken the decision to allow pre-medical students to pursue engineering due to a significant decline in engineering admissions.

Currently, only 30% of the capacity in engineering universities is being utilised, and some universities have even closed their engineering disciplines due to the lack of students.

During a meeting with the VC of engineering university in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it was disclosed that while 40,000 students have been admitted to pre-medical programmes, only 6,000 have been admitted to engineering programmes. Private universities, in particular, are facing a significant decline in enrollment.

Haroon also pointed out the involvement of engineering in medicine, mentioning the crucial role of machines and equipment in hospitals and the significance of engineering in dentistry, bionics and prosthetics.

Haroon stressed that this decision was made after consulting with 17 VCs of the country.

EXPRESS TRIBUNE

 

[BouncerGuy]

Pakistan’s education system in ‘low’ performance category: report

ISLAMABAD: An official report released on Friday placed the country’s education system in the ‘low’ performance category and highlighted critical areas requiring attention to improve the education outcomes.

The District Education Performance Index (DEPIx) Report 2020-23 released by the Planning Commission stated, “Pakistan’s national average score in the DEPIx is 53.46, placing the country in the “low” performance category.

Among the five domains, infrastructure and access scored the highest at 58.95, indicating some progress in expanding educational opportunities. Inclusion (equity and technology) follows as the second-highest domain.“

It said public financing recorded the lowest score, highlighting the need for increased and better-targeted spending in the education sector. The learning domain also scores poorly, reflecting persistently low learning outcomes among students.

“Governance and management, though slightly better than learning, still falls in the “low” category, mainly due to teacher shortages and high bureaucratic turnover,” it said.

The report said that over the past decades, the country has reached middle-income status and made commendable progress in developing its human capital. However, this progress has been slower than that of other developing countries and regional peers.

The slow pace of human capital development poses challenges not only to realising the potential demographic dividend but also to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and attaining upper-middle-income status by 2047.

The report said among the critical factors in human capital development, providing quality and inclusive education is paramount. In 2010, the parliament devolved policy, administrative and fiscal authority over education to the provinces and enshrined the right to free education as a fundamental right through Article 25-A of the Constitution.

Since then, provincial governments have enacted compulsory education laws, increased budgetary allocations for school education and implemented various governance and data reforms.

Notably, reforms in the education data regime have improved the availability of data on education indicators. Notwithstanding these efforts, the complexity, breadth and fragmentation of education data have often made it challenging for policymakers and stakeholders to use it effectively in decision-making.

To address these issues and support the education emergency declared by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in May, the Planning Commission integrated various school education indicators into composite scorecards.

The DEPIx is structured across five domains: infrastructure and access, learning, inclusion (equity and technology), governance and management and public financing. It covers 134 districts across Pakistan, including Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Punjab, Sindh and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

Besides highlighting the national overview, the report also included the provincial overview. It said Punjab emerged as the top-performing province with a composite score of 61.39 followed by KP with a score of 54.88 while Sindh and Balochistan lagged behind with scores of 51.49 and 45.70, respectively.

Pertaining to the district-level insights, the report said none of the 134 districts fall within the “very high” performance category and only Islamabad falls into the “High” category, making it an outlier as the highest-performing districts.

Alarmingly, the report adds that more than half of Pakistan’s districts (76) fall into the “Low” performance category. These low-performing districts are predominantly in Balochistan and Sindh with 33 districts in Balochistan and 22 in Sindh. Notably, all districts of Balochistan fall in the “Low” education performance category, indicating severe challenges across the province.

Apart from the ICT, the top 10 districts are exclusively from Punjab and KP - seven from Punjab and two from KP. No districts from Sindh or Balochistan are represented among the top 10.

Regarding the intra-provincial disparities, the report said significant variations in education performance exist within provinces. KP exhibits the greatest intra-provincial differences, with districts like Haripur, Chitral and Abbottabad among the top performers while Kolai Palas, Upper Kohistan and Lower Kohistan ranking among the lowest.

There is nearly a 30-point gap between the best and worst-performing districts in KP. Punjab and Balochistan show the least intra-provincial variation, with Punjab’s districts mostly falling into the medium category and all of Balochistan’s districts in the low category. Sindh has moderate variation with most districts in the “low” category except for the urban districts of Karachi and Hyderabad.

DAWN NEWS

 

[BouncerGuy]

PM Shehbaz declares education emergency across country on Int’l Literacy Day

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared an education emergency across the country on Sunday — which is International Literacy Day — calling on the private sector and civil organisations to join hands with the government.

“Today, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing the education agenda, striving for a more informed and sustainable nation,” the prime minister said in a message on the occasion of International Literacy Day.

International Literacy Day is observed on September 8 to remind policy-makers, practitioners, and the public of the critical importance of literacy for creating a more literate, just, peaceful, and sustainable society.

Unesco has highlighted that the lack of access to education remains a significant barrier, as three out of four children in developing countries cannot read or comprehend a basic text by the age of 10, and there are still 754 million illiterate adults globally, two-thirds of whom are women.

“For this purpose, we have declared an educational emergency across the country, launched an enrollment campaign for students, and initiated mid-day meals for children in schools,” he stated.

“Literacy is a fundamental human and constitutional right that guarantee the future of our country,” he said, going on to define literacy as not merely the ability to read and write, but rather a “gateway to empowerment, economic opportunities and active participation in society”.

To reduce the dropout rate and encourage every child to complete their education, the prime minister pointed out that the government had introduced scholarships and other incentives.

“In this rapidly emerging world, developing literacy and skills in line with technology is inevitable,” the premier stressed, adding that the government was implementing a comprehensive plan to integrate technology into the educational system and ensuring that the youth were equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in the digital economy.

He said private sector and civil society organisations were equal partners in the government’s efforts.

“By establishing effective partnerships, we can link education with employment and self-employment opportunities, creating a stronger and more inclusive workforce,” he added.

Earlier in May, PM Shehbaz had declared an education emergency and vowed to get around 26 million out-of-school children enrolled.

“Today, with iron conviction, and the support of provinces, we will handle the challenge of 26m out-of-school children. We will bring them back to school…I declare from this moment an Emergency in Education all over Pakistan…The way we did it in Punjab, we will do it in Pakistan,” the prime minister said while addressing the National Conference on Education Emergency.

“I will personally supervise the programme and meet all the chief ministers, irrespective of their political affiliations, with a vision to march in unison, expressing the hope that the provinces too would extend their support,” the PM said.

The premier said the enrollment of 26m out-of-school children and stunted growth were major challenges facing Pakistan which required huge financial resources.

Last month, PM Shehbaz said that the government had established the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund to support children from low-income families to obtain higher education.

In a meeting with Oxford Union President Israr Khan Kakar at the PM House, the prime minister said that a 20pc quota will be allocated for the youth of Balochistan under the newly established fund.

The premier lauded Kakar on winning the Oxford Union election in June, when the former became the third Pakistani and first from Balochistan to hold this prestigious position.

The Oxford Union, founded in 1823, is one of the oldest and most esteemed debating societies in the world.

PM Shehbaz expressed the hope that young people like him would continue to make Pakistan proud.

DAWN NEWS

 

[FearlessRoar]

‘Adopt India’s scheme ULLAS to fix dysfunctional education system’: ADB tells Pakistan on request for financial support​

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has advised Pakistan to adopt India’s scheme ULLAS to fix its dysfunctional education system and impart quality training to its citizens, according to a media report.

The Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS) was launched by the Government of India in July 2023 to help non-literates and adults, who missed out on formal schooling.

The Manila-based lender's recommendation came in response to Pakistan’s request for financial support to improve its education system and impart education to all out-of-school children, The Express Tribune newspaper said.

The ADB recommended that the government adopt a strategic and multi-stakeholder consultative approach, drawing on international best practices, such as the government of India’s new centrally-sponsored scheme “ULLAS”, according to the lender.

The ADB's recommendation came before a scheduled visit of ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa to Pakistan on September 16.

A Planning Commission’s report for 2023 revealed that Pakistan’s education delivery system had become dysfunctional and all the 134 districts, barring Islamabad, were lagging on indicators ranging from learning outcomes to public financing, and people are entering into job markets either with no or low education.

Pakistan last week declared an education emergency on International Literacy Day to educate around 26 million out-of-school children in the country.

The ADB emphasised that the ULLAS scheme emphasises the need for both federal and provincial governments to collaborate urgently to enhance access to quality education and can offer insightful lessons of success and challenges when considering a similar vertical scheme in Pakistan.

What is ULLAS?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the new centrally-sponsored scheme ULLAS for the five-year period to cover all the aspects of “Education for All”.

ULLAS is an acronym for Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society, a scheme launched by the Government of India to help adults and non-literates who missed out on formal schooling. The scheme’s goals include:

The scheme has five components: Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education, Vocational Skills, and Continuing Education.

The scheme will be implemented through volunteerism through online mode. Trainings, orientations, workshops of volunteers will be organized through face-to-face mode. All material and resources shall be provided digitally for easy access to registered volunteers through easily accessible digital modes, viz, TV, radio, cell phone-based free/open-source Apps/portals, etc.

The financial outlay of ULLAS is Rs 1,037.90 crore, which includes Centre’s share of Rs 700 crore and state share of Rs 337.90 crore, respectively.

‘Adopt India’s scheme ULLAS to fix dysfunctional education system’: ADB tells Pakistan on request for financial support

A recent report revealed that Pakistan’s education delivery system had become dysfunctional and all the 134 districts, barring Islamabad, were lagging on all indicators and people are entering into job markets either with no or low education.

www.businesstoday.in

 

[Buffet]

See how rural this government school in interior Sindh looks.

View attachment 141777

Not ideal but if they are are atleast in school and getting some education.

20-40% kids are outside of school.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Senior official passes exam despite absence from classes

A provincial secretary to the Sindh government has passed his examination of two semesters of Masters of Business Administration (MBA) with flying colours, though without attending classes from a university under his supervision.

According to documents available with The News, the secretary has been given extraordinary favour by the Sindh Maderssatul Islam University (SMIU), Karachi, in violation of the rules and regulations of the University and Higher Education Commission (HEC).

The Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU), Karachi, is one of the oldest educational institutions in South Asia, which initially started as a school in 1943 and a university in February 2012, founded by Hassan Ali Effendi. Besides other notables, the Founder of Pakistan, Quiad-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, also studied at this institution.

As per the university's computerised 'Campus Management Solution' (CMS) record available with 'The News', during the examination of first and second semesters, the secretary obtained A-1, A, and B grades in two semesters of 'MBA' from the university without attending classes in major courses.

The secretary, as a student of the weekend degree programme for MBA having registration 23F-202, remained absent in 11 classes out of 20 classes in his 'Introduction to Business Finance' course. He was also absent in all 18 classes of the 'Principle of Marketing' course but passed in both courses in B+.

Similarly, in second semester, he remained absent from his all 18 classes of 'cost and management accounting' but was allowed to take the examination and succeeded to pass the course in A-1.

In a course of 'supply chain management', the secretary was shown to be present in all classes including a class conducted on 18, June 2024, a gazetted holiday of Eid-ul-Adha 2024.

Interestingly, the same course is offered for Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) but in violation of rules and regulations of the University and HEC, the same has been assigned to the secretary for his MBA degree.

As per the examination policy of the university, it was mentioned in the prospectus 'guidelines for examination policy' point 3, subsection 1 clause 2 and Higher Education Commission (HEC) regulations, at least 75 percent attendance is mandatory for any student to take the examination, but this policy and regulation have been violated in the secretary's case.

As per the official record, to facilitate the secretary, a visiting teacher was hired for a course 'Business Economics,' in which the secretary is the only student. In addition, he was also the only student in another course of 'Financial Management'. On the other hand, as per the official record of the university, the secretary was given a challan of Rs84,560 in September 2024 for his university fees but later he was issued another concessional challan of Rs59,060, which he paid.

This correspondent approached the secretary for his version, called his official number and his cell number, sent him a detailed message, reminded him, and waited for two days but till the filling of this news story, he did not reply.

Minister of the Sindh Universities and Boards Muhammad Ali Malkani told 'The News' that he will personally look into the matter, inquire about the issue, and take necessary action.

Anwar Abro, spokesperson of the university, in his written reply on behalf of the university management, told 'The News' that the secretary had received admission when he was not in the current position. He was issued enrolment like many other postgraduate students who did jobs in the morning and continued their education in the evening.

The spokesperson further said the visiting faculty is a regular feature of SMIU which is being hired. However, it is out of the scope that a visiting faculty is hired for any particular or singular person. Besides, he has remained a regular student.

SOURCE: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1232033-senior-official-passes-exam-despite-absence-from-classes

 

[FearlessRoar]

Saturday holiday abolished in Islamabad educational institutions

The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) on Friday announced abolishing Saturday holiday in Islamabad's educational institutions from November 30 to February 1, 2025.

Without referring to the PTI's three-day-long protest, a notification stated that Saturday will be observed as working day in all the educational institutions working under the ambit of the FDE to compensate the academic loss due to their frequent closure.

All educational institutions shall observe six working days with already notified official timings, it concluded.

The notification was issued to the heads of institutions of the Islamabad model schools and colleges.

This decision came after the educational institutions had remained closed for three consecutive days in Rawalpindi and Islamabad during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) demonstrations in the federal capital which started on November 24 and culminated in the wee hours of Wednesday, November 27.

Academic circles criticised the back-to-back interruption in the regular studies in the twin cities and highlighted difficulties for educators and students who were required to complete curriculums within a prescribed timeline for an academic year.

All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association North Punjab President Abrar Ahmed Khan also complained that the students were not being given sufficient time to complete their regular studies.

He highlighted that the provincial education boards decided to organise matriculation exams from March 4, whereas, winter vacations will be observed from December 20 to January 10.

Abrar had urged the educational boards to review matric examination schedule following the disruption in academic activities.

The federal capital was put under a security lockdown during the political demonstrations which also saw clashes between police and protesters and led to the closure of transport services and educational institutions.

Saturday holiday abolished in Islamabad educational institutions

The Federal Directorate of Education on Friday announced abolishing Saturday holiday in Islamabad's educational institutions from November 30 to February 1, 2025. Without referring to the PTI's three-day-long protest, a...

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