Decisions taken back

Rules and regulations are made to regularize the people. But it is generally perceived in Pakistan that after winning election, every political party pursues its own political interests rather than national interests. Politically motivated decisions are not followed by the next governments because of internal differences and thus, preferably take start from zero in every term. Therefore, developmental approaches are not only contracted and limited but the whole setup is based on short term policy making.

Political interference is the major cause of inefficiency and incompetence in the social service delivery system of Pakistan and education is at worst. It is clear that education as a system is not a single activity. It involves a series of inter-linked activities and mechanisms constituting a coherent whole. Teaching, supervision, planning and management, examination and certification, curriculum development and implementation are parts of the mechanism seriously spoiled by political interference in one way or the other.

In order to cope with the situation, we need to prioritize the most crucial areas of our education system. In my opinion, teaching and teachers related aspects are crucial, particularly the way they are recruited, getting trained and utilized. Proper utilization of manpower is an important feature of achieving preferred objectives. I think, if we give due attention to teachers related aspects of education, we’ll be able to resolve more than 50% of our education problems.

I am sure that the present provincial government is cognizant of the fact as evident from the decisions taken recently. But unfortunately they failed to implement such important decisions. Introduction of cluster system may be an example. Presently, there is a huge set up for supervising primary schools at district level. In case of Swat district, for example, 10 Assistant Education Officers (ADOs), two Drawing & Disbursing Officers (DDOs) and more than 50 supporting and technical staff for supervising about 1300 primary schools. Each ADO has to look after above hundred primary schools. Cluster system means that instead of such huge set up, each principal of a high school will be entrusted the responsibility to supervise his own feeding primary schools located in its own jurisdiction. It was a nice decision and highly commended in the education circles. But primary teachers and district supervisors influenced the government politically and the decision overturned. It means that no teacher is willing to work under close observation. It obviously, indicates a number of problems prevailing in our education system.

There is another interesting example of the same approach. It is called separation of teaching and management cadre. As per previous practice, experienced and qualified teachers were being adjusted against management posts in the district on seniority basis. When political interference deteriorated the situation, such decent people preferred to stay in isolation, restricted to classroom environment and refused to join management posts in order to avoid confrontation with politicians and make their future secured from wrongdoing. Interestingly the gape filled by some politically resourceful employees of education and thus, the situation led our education to evil days. It was a total misconception of the situation when decided to separate management from teaching cadre. The posts were advertized and filled in by the Public Service Commission but the problem remained the same. Some of the new comers adjusted themselves in the status quo, but some refused to work according to the will and wish of politicians. Resultantly, the government reversed the decision and replaced those who refused to work by the teaching force.

Decision making is a scientific process and need comprehensive understanding of the ground realities. Our  main problem is political interference. We need to strengthen our institutions. Involvement of politicians in the construction of a school even from the acquisition of land till the appointment of a watchman/Chowkidar is now an open secret. De-politicization of education is now intensely required. Depravation and corruption has reached to the instant that there is no way out but to take proper research oriented and merit-based decisions in the best public interests.