THE gateway to a country’s success is undoubtedly education. It is what enlightens and boosts the country’s economy, sovereignty and development.

Malaysia is a worthy example. It has emerged as a developed nation. Education has been wisely promoted and now the literacy rate has increased up to 95 per cent. This is why their economy and development has expanded greatly during the years.

While we played the blame game, the Indians who achieved independence along with Pakistanis are seeing great prosperity today. Though they have population-control issues, they have focused on their education sector. They may have not achieved the developed status, but they have improved their financial status through education. They are now a nuclear power, have a good tourist industry and an extremely successful film industry. They have achieved all this through education.

Bangladesh is another example. The people living there were a part of us in 1971. We lost them and are still crying over spilt milk. Bangladeshis have instead focused their energies on the education sector immensely. Schools have been built for everyone — with equal opportunities for the rich and the poor. This is the reason why they have gotten ahead of us. They have a better currency value and a better GDP growth rate.

We Pakistanis are a God-gifted nation. We have untapped oil and gas reserves under the barren mountains of Balochistan, and we have an estimated 175 billion tons of coal under the sands of Sindh.

We have everything but the problem is that we don’t have the key that is education.

In Pakistan, two education systems are running parallel to each other: Cambridge and Matriculation. I find this the primary cause of lack of equal opportunity of education for everyone here in Pakistan.

Government schools for the lower and the lower middle class mostly offer Matriculation. These schools are mostly in a neglected and ruined state. Students aren’t even facilitated with the basic requirements, including textbooks and furniture.

Teachers prefer their incomes instead of fulfilling the responsibility of teaching children. The Cambridge system is ostensibly for the upper class.

There should be a single education system, and teachers should be hired for their potential. They should treat the children with love and affection.

Promoting education and improving its standard is intensively required in Pakistan. We have the capacity to beat the developed and even the so-called ‘superpower’.

M. IBRAHIM TARIQ Lahore