Misleading Narratives: What's Wrong with Education in Pakistan

Misleading Narratives

What's Wrong with Education in Pakistan

A Report Published in 2011 but still relevant. Although there are some good changes over the years in the Punjab yet largely textbook preparation, approval has serious issues while reflection of old narrative is also there. I did this study in 2010-11 and again in 2014-15 and these days am trying to expand it to whole Pakistan. 

We are trying to construct a more inclusive society. We are going to make a country in which no one is left out.

 Franklin D. Roosevelt

Inclusive, good-quality education is a foundation for dynamic and equitable societies. Desmond Tutu

Here i will share some extracts of the report. Will share extracts one by one in coming days because report is pretty long. 

Pre-British education in the Punjab and its surroundings . Basic education was decentralized and governments had no interest in ideological indoctrination ; a phenomenon of modern Nation State which jeopardized the whole concept of education. The major source of pre-colonial education is G W Litner's book cum report "History of indigenous education in the Punjab" published by Government of the Punjab in 1882.

T. B. Macaulay, is among the most misinterpreted, misused British officer who is victim of colonial as well as anti-colonial elements. At February 02, 1835  he delivered a speech known in history as Minute by T. B. Macaulay and in later years we witnessed a pitch battle between supporters and opponents of Macaulay. There are many things in the minute and I will write another blog on it but here i will mention its influence on education only. Along with many things Macaulay said "We abstain, and I trust shall always abstain, from giving any public encouragement to those who are engaged in the work of converting the natives to Christianity." It is not the only sentence in the minute and he also said "Assuredly it is the duty of the British Government in India to be not only tolerant but neutral on all religious questions". There were many disturbing as well as controversial claims in his minute but you can well understand that he oppose use of religion in education. Due to that fact many   Brown sahibs and orthodox generally misinterpret Macaulay according to their needs. His speech reflected the tussle between evangelical and  utilitarian schools raised after 1813 and 1833 chartered Acts.