Why a uniform system of education

Desirability to have a uniform system of education and curricula throughout the country is often voiced in certain quarters. This demand is nothing more than a myth and is absolutely academic in nature. It is neither pragmatic nor practicable nor desirable. Then what makes some academicians to mc id for a uniform system of education? What useful purpose can it serve? They are not very clear about its benefits except that it is likely to promote national unity. They have perhaps forgotten Urdu Bengali tussle which was one of the factors that accounted for separation of East Pakistan. Bengali had eventually been declared the second national language of the country but the damage had been done which could not be repaired.

Education system is reflective of the structure of Pakistani society. It is uniform only in the sense that it s a mosaic of variety of cultures. Otherwise it is diverse, pluralistic, distinctive each feature exhibiting exclusive characteristics which have nothing in common with each other. More than that the society is composed of extra-rich minority, vast disgruntled middle class and poverty ridden majority. How can uniform system be devised for it. An educational system is not only a set of syllabi and a program of examinations that may chum out well groomed citizens some other factors also take part in their education. These are their home life, social environment and the institution they attend. Put a student belonging to a primitive tribe in a public school he will not be able to get along. To have a uniform system of examination minimum requirement would be a society blessed with economic uniformity i.e. a nation enjoying a status of distribution of wealth.

Summing up, it may be said that to bring the vast majority of illiterates into the educational net the Union Councils spread all over Pakistan should be directed to launch as many Primary Schools as required so that every child of school going age of their area gets enrolled. This vast network of NSUs (National Union Schools) will form the mainstream of Pakistan’s educational system. The NSUs will be funded by the state. A standardized uniform syllabus as prescribed for government schools will be adopted by the NSUs as well. Trained teachers shall be provided b the Education Department. This is how the whole nation should get educated up to the Primary level within a short period. Demand for further education will ensure opening up of Middle order and Secondary level schools. Presently there are enough universities for higher education. More may be opened, if required. The government should allocate 10 to 15% of the GI)P annually, as against the present 1.8%, for the attainment of the stated objective. Bangladesh allocates 7.4% while the level of allocation in the world over is 5% on an average. UNESCO may be approached for educational funds and professional expertise.