Raising kids is not an easy job. Parents want to make a conscious decision to educate their kids. Parents’ behaviour has a direct impact on Children psychology. Parents must show patience in their kids’ learning process. Hypocrisy, uneasiness and stress in parents is due to some selfish behaviour. Every parent wants to make their kids able to fight in every battle of life. Parents are scared of the failures of their kids or they want to acquire their incomplete wishes. So they edify their kids to gather the resources of life, earn fame and collect money. Sometimes, parents consciously make their kids selfish rather than becoming a good human. There are thousands of ways to improve our culture, nation and religion, we have limited ways but to improve the effective learning process. 

Education system claims that ‘we make humanity perfect’. Plans are well intended but the means are not well intended. 

Where there is a rotten root , there will always be rotten fruit.

Joyce Meyer

The Pakistani education sector is divided into portions; primary, secondary, matric, college, university and vocational and professional education.

This study will discuss following points to analyse strengths and gaps in the education sector of Pakistan and recommendations to improve the education sector.

• Recent History of Education
• Technical, Vocational and Professional Education Alignment
• Updated books, Practicing tools, Real-life examples
• Personal Development, Learning and Evaluation
• Say ‘no’ to Corruption
• Training and Development of Teachers
• Aligning Madrasa Education
• Parents’ Counselling
• Quality of Work Life Implementation
• Brain Drain of Ideas
• Earn not just Bread and Butter
• Potentials of Pakistan

Recent History of Education:

In Pakistan, there are 31% private institutes and 69% public institutes (IPRI, 2015). According to the ASER report (2015), the public institutes in rural areas are lacking in quality of education.  Therefore, parents are maltreated to send their kids to private institutes. COVID-19 was actually considered a disaster in financial and education sectors in the entire globe. According to the PESR (2021), the Pakistani government is claiming house-hold based learning, tele-schooling, radio-schooling and podcasting to cover the COVID-gap with the active participation of the private sector. In the unfirming syllabus, the Pakistani government couldn’t make enough efforts. On the other hand, private schools had continued the classes in COVID-19. COVID-gap was a big challenge for child-behaviours, not for education in the private education sector. 

Technical, Vocational and Professional Education Alignment:

Aligning technical education has always been an issue to be implemented. Practical based knowledge is missing in the education system. National Vocational and Technical Training Commission claims that more than 200,000 youth are now employed due to vocational and training programs supported by the Government of Pakistan. The private sector Participation of is also appreciated by the Government. Enrollment vocational and professional educational courses in;

• IT certification & Photoshop
• Web graphics & mobile App development 
• SEO content writing and digital marketing
• E-commerce
• HTML & IT programming
• Advanced survey
• Computer application & office professional
• 3D Animation
• Accounting, finance & book keeping
• Solar panel making and installation
• Beauty therapy, skin care and hair styling and cutting 
• Textile designing
• Embroidery & Adda work
• Industrial stitching and operations
• Artificial insemination
• Nursing
• Advanced surgery & robot operations
• Hospitality management
• Construction material testing technique
• Fashion designer and tailoring

 These courses are free provided by the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission supported by the Government of Pakistan. Future of this commission is bright, if it is properly managed, organized and made available to every student.  Examination system must be aligned between theory memorization and practical implementation because sometimes conscious memorization becomes unconscious in the practical implementations. This alignment will be sympathetic in career-counseling↔technical alignment.

Freelancing must be considered as a full subject with variation of students’ interest. Girls and future Moms can earn by freelancing to support the economy of the country having flexible working hours. Freelancing has become a full time job, although freelancing has its own pros and cons.

Private sector is giving more emphasis on practical based knowledge rather than just memorization to pass the exams. Every kid has its own potential. Some kids are good in memorization, some are good in applying that knowledge, some kids are more creative in ideas, some kids are expert in aligning things. So basically 

Every body is genius. but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will its whole life believing that it is stupid.

Albert Einstein

Education system has some weaknesses but there are massive opportunities as well. Private government alignment is the solution to the technical↔education integration. Great opportunities can be created, if the public sector students are trained technically. These poor students can play a significant role in Pakistan’s GDP in the long run. 

In the modern era, internet availability has solved mysteries of alignment. Like technical education, vocational and professional education must be compulsory subjects in public and private education. Early childhood challenges in public sector students, it must be an opportunity for students to enhance and sharpen their technical and professional skills. COVID-19 opened the door of distant-learning for students. Count-less skills can be learnt and taught in this zero-distance vocational and professional education model. With the little utilization of time, teachers must be encouraged to help students in the learning process as they are potential youth of Pakistan.

Updated books, Practicing tools, Real-life examples :

The enormous changes in technology have updated many old theories and concepts. Updated books, Real-life examples, case studies and critical thinking are missing in the education sector. The abilities of critical thinking, problem solving and practical implementation are required in all subjects for development and improvement of  the learning process.  

Personal development, learning and evaluation:

Training and development programs are arranged by both the public and private sector but with zero accountability. There is a need for an Accountability and Management Sector to implement and protect updated knowledge.

Panert counseling is an essential part of the education sector. Without parents’ support and supervision, it is impossible to execute the educational plans. Pakistan is affluent in its Family Support System. Most females in Pakistan take a break in their careers to groom their children. Mothers may have good monitoring, intimacy and championship with their kids, if they are helping and grooming their children preferably (Sohail et al., 2018). Fathers help, discussion, support and cooperation is significant in parent↔child relationship.      

Student counseling opens the doors of many opportunities and to find potential in students. But unfortunately student counseling is not properly managed in Pakistan. Written records, evaluations and improvements are mostly ignored. It must be considered an asset to find the potential students in every area. Students are the future youth of Pakistan, so in other words it is the future of Pakistan.

The journey of evaluation and renewing implementation must never be ignored to make the education system perfect.

Say ‘no’ to Corruption:

Corruption in the education sector not only browbeat the social-trust, but it is also one of the biggest threats to the future of Pakistan. Urban public schools are oftenly managed and evaluated, but the rural and remote public schools are mostly ignored in every government. Children are poor and teacher treat them as slaves. Corruption in education is not only about looting of funds, but it is about misappropriation and misutilization of resources and time. Corruption affects planning, procurement, management, conduction, supplies, admissions, training and development. The future of Pakistan is in the hands of teachers. Anti-corruption transparency strategies (Prevention of Corruption Act 1947) must be implemented timely to monitor and evaluate. The teachers performance and circumvent of corruption must be integrated in the teacher evaluation process. ‘Same national curriculum for private and public schools’ was the Government’s slogan but there is no law-enforcement for implementation.    

Training and Development of Teachers:

In the private and public sectors, training and developmental programs are arranged timely. Training for public sector teachers are arranged in summer vacations, while the private sector outsources teachers training programs. Teachers are taught effective and interactive communication skills, policies and procedures, teaching methodologies, mentor, leadership and management skills to control the psychology of students . But  written records, self-evaluation plans, improvements and evaluations are missing in the training and development programs. 

Teachers must use tools and tricks instead of technology especially for the primary studies. Practical based knowledge in science and Mathematics is found more effective in primary studies (Abrahams & Reiss, 2012). Memorization would become easier, if practical behavior implementation is introduced in mathematics and science.

Aligning Madrasa Education:

Madrasa education is one of the most powerful tools in the education system of Pakistan. Every parent wants their kids to start their studies with religious beliefs, as 96.50% of Pakistanis are Muslims. Positive reinterpretation and turning to religion is highly correlated in stress coping strategies (Quraishi et al., 2018). The alignment of Madrasa education with regular school education can award better outcomes in the long run.  

Parents‘ Counselling:

Being a parent is the most compensating and testing position. Guardians frequently have a wide range of obligations that they need to satisfy. In Pakistani Cultural assumptions, guardians are expected to care, adore and groom their kids up with a steady learning and development process. The vast majority of these obligations require a high level of association with kids. Due to economic burden, mothers want to earn for living and parents have become less associated with their kids’ grooming. According to the study of Hornby and Lafaele (2011), parental contribution to a kid’s schooling has a positive influence on a youngster’s intellectual, social, and profound prosperity. According to a study of Avvisati et al. (2010), the absence of parental association in their kids’ training is one of the significant causes of indiscipline in schools. In light of the above examinations, this is parents’ fundamental task to carry out and help in their kids’ schooling. Parental guidance is profound to the outcome of youngsters’ grooming.

Quality of Work Life Implementation: 

Quality work life is the emerging concept. Schooling and interaction of student teacher models need a healthy and safe working and learning environment. That is known as Quality of work life. Quality work life is the common obligation for all organizations and for the general public. 

• Learning culture 
• Team-building
• Timely training and development
• Aligning rewards and compensations with achievements
• Adequacy of resources and facilities
• Secure working environment
• Empowerment to adopt different teaching strategies
• Flexibility according to students  

are the important features to implement QWL in the education sector of Pakistan.

On the other hand students having these educational facilities, learning environment and check and balance would be cooperative in academic journey. QWL must be considered an asset not the cost; studies found empowerment and QWL implementation in education build satisfied, involved and committed student↔teachers relation (Uddin & Rao, 2018). 

Brain Drain of Ideas:

Brain drain in education is mostly associated with the teachers. Brain drain is defined as highly trained and qualified employees hired by other organizations with more incentives. This brain drain is very dangerous to the organization. On the other hand, every person wants to enjoy more incentives. This is an ordinary problem in the education sector of Pakistan. There are two types of brain drains;

1- Brain drain with in country 

This brain drain is known as inter-organizational brain drain. Teachers leave within session to avail more incentives in other organizations. Although, schools claim to have contracts with teachers to not to leave organization within session. Teachers are a strategic asset of educational organizations. Students are affected by this irresponsible act of the teacher. This act can be avoided by the real law-enforcements. Public schools mostly don’t have these problems.  

2- Brain drain out of country

This brain drain is damaging to nations, if nations lose their strategic assets. Unfortunately, Pakistan has this problem due to political instability. Every person wants protection and motivation in their stress-free careers. True law-enforcement will encourage people not to leave the country for personal benefit, as collective benefit must be priority to every Pakistani. 

Earn not just Bread and Butter:

This future of Pakistan is only dependent upon the true utilization, protection and motivation of the education sector, but it also depends upon the self-less behaviours of educational organizations. Most of the private educational sector has made it a business for living. The public schools are not successful in meeting the basic educational standards. On the other hand, public universities have better QWL conditions. So every parent wants their children to study in a private educational institute at school level. Law-enforcement is required to meet the basic educational standards to educate the poor streams of Pakistan, as most of children go to the public schools. Cooperation and integration of private and public education sectors can solve many problems. Some private educations have scholarship programs for the public sector brilliant students.

Potentials of Pakistan:

Despite of political instability, Pakistan do have many potentials. These are

 1- Pakistan has a High Population Growth Ratio. In most of the developed countries, the population graph is declining. People do not want to have children and just want to focus on their careers. In Japan, companies are producing more adult diapers than children’s diapers. European countries are also suffering population-decline. According to the World Population Review Survey (2022), most of the developed countries would lose their large percentage of  population by 2050; On the other hand, Pakistan’s population growth rate is 1.74% in 2022. If the educational sectors and students are considered an asset, they will become the future strategic human capital of Pakistan.

2- Pakistan is rich in natural resources. Pakistan has High Nature Utilization Ratio. This is strength and future opportunity that Pakistan’ is highly capable to make Hydroelectricity, Thermal Electricity, Solar Electricity. High level of Law-enforcement can boost Pakistan’s exports in natural minerals like natural pink and mineral salt, coal, iron, copper, chromite, bauxite, rubies, topaz, emerald and other finished and semi-finished products. Pakistan also has export-history of Uranium. Pakistan is rich in fertile lands and exports a large variety  of vegetation and fruits which give business to the multinational companies. With little investments and government cooperation, Pakistan’s GDP can be improved. Natural resources and Educational sector alignment can boost opportunity of nature utilization.  

3- Youth of Pakistan is another strength of Pakistan. They are the future human capital of Pakistan. Pakistan is rich in Higher Energetic Youth Ratio. With the little speculation and spark of private and public educational sectors, Pakistani youth can be utilized for the highest achievements.

4- High Availability of Internet can be considered another competitive edge of Pakistan. It has encouraged Pakistani population to start their careers in Ecommerce, Freelancing, Blogging, Social media managers etc. More than 52% population has smartphones (Hunter, 2020). This strength can be enhanced by the correct education and timely lunch of projects. Amazing results are not possible without public and private educational sector alignment. 

5- Pakistan literacy rate has improved. According to the research study of Hunter, (2020), 70% of Pakistani youth is literate. The energetic and ambitious youth can only be encouraged through the right education and career-counseling on right time by the educational institutions.   

6- Pakistan is a culturally rich country. Family is the foundation of any society. The Protected Family System is the strength of Pakistan. Secured marriages, child protection, gender roles and diversity management are the beauties of Pakistani culture. Every Pakistani feels safe and secured in their family system.This protects a human being from many psychological disorders. Education must be most important component to protect the trust and enhance the cultural values. 

  

Conclusion and Recommendations

Every Pakistani has the right to have education and stress-free adoption of a favourable career. Education sector of Pakistan has some strengths and gaps in their educational policies. These gaps can be covered through private and public educational sector cooperation. Future of Pakistan is in the hands of the educational sector. Education must not be considered to just earn bread and butter. Effective law-enforcement is required to uniform the national educational curriculum. The law-enforcement and evaluation of all these enforcement must be transparent. Pakistan is rich in natural resources, to utilize these resources there must be educational and natural resources alignment policies for the future survival and competition. Pakistani energetic youth and internet availability is strengths for future opportunities.       

References

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Sohail, A., Imtiaz, A., & Iqbal, S. (2018). Issues Faced by Working Mothers in Lahore and the Impact of Job Stress on their Relationship with their Adolescent Children. UMT Education Review, 1(2), 60–73. https://doi.org/10.32350/uer.12.04

Uddin, S., & Rao, K.S. S. (2018). Quality of work-life in education sector: With reference to deemed universities in Andhra Pradesh. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET), 9(3), 828–836.

World Population Review. (2022). Pakistan Population 2022. Retrieved Oct, 2022, from https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/pakistan-population