HERE comes yet another attempt at kick-starting a public discourse on the most neglected issue in Pakistan: public sector education. This time the initiative has been taken by Nargis Rahman, the dynamic head of the Pakistan Women’s Foundation for Peace, which has launched a series of seminars on the subject. Two meetings have been held so far, with one more scheduled.

Nearly a dozen speakers have expressed their views on the malaise of ‘stagnated’ public sector schools in the country. It is remarkable how a variety of problems have been addressed to give participants a better understanding of what is going on.

However, this exercise has so far not produced an answer to a frequently asked question: ‘What can civil society do to get the government to put its education house in order?’ Only those in office can undertake this task. All the speakers were eloquent in analysing the problems, and identifying tentative solutions. They also seemed to know full well that the policymakers are aware of what is wrong and what needs to be done to improve the situation. After all, most of the experts who spoke in the two seminars have either worked with the power wielders, or are now engaged in some form of partnership with the government. But we were not toldwhy the experts are failing to get the government to pay heed to their sound advice. The fact is that on such occasions no one wants to call a spade a spade.

There are two reasons for our rulers’ lack of political will to put their act together when it comes to education. First, by denying the masses knowledge and education, the powers that be hope to keep the people ignorant and incapable of thinking critically and developing problem-solving skills. The neglect of family planning, the emphasis on ‘English medium’ education and the promotion of excessive religiosity are also designed to make people complacent and fatalistic. As a result, they accept their poverty and the oppression heaped on them without resisting. They are also more subservient and easier to control and exploit.

What can civil society do to clean up the education sector?

The second reason for our rulers wanting to maintain the status quo is that it would add to the loot that accrues to so many employed in the sector. Money is the grease that keeps the system going. There are some honest, hardworking, well-qualified and conscientious people who work within the system but they are, arguably, heavily outnumbered by the corrupt. Tales of corruption are legion, and mercifully, some speakers had the courage to focus on them. The power of money to buy or sell ‘privileges’ and ‘advantages’ that are not legally earned is now taken for granted. It is corruption that leads to inefficiency. The examination boards are the biggest money minters and need a clean-up operation if education in Pakistan is to survive.

Returning to the earlier question of what is to be done, I would suggest the Dr Akhter Hameed Khan approach. Doctor Sahib launched the Orangi Pilot Project in Karachi, based on his faith in the ability and native knowledge of the people, who were its beneficiaries. His philosophy was that every community has its own leaders who can solve their own problems if facilitated by outside expertise that also understands this philosophy. That is how Orangi’s drainage system became a success story narrated all over the world.

In the context of education, it would mean restructuring and expanding the powers of school management committees so that they act as regulatory bodies that give the community a greater say in the future of their children. Every school should have an SMC comprising parents and informal leaders/ elders of the community from where the students are drawn. Others to be included shou­­ld be the school headmistress/ head-

master and some members of staff and some representatives from the education department (specifically the district education office).

Above all, some members of the public, the likes of school adopters, should be invited to join the SMC and play the role of middlemen and use their good offices to mediate in the conflicts that will be inevitable. Hopefully, this will improve the working of schools as the presence of the adopters will neutralise the corrupt and inefficient.

The adopters could invest some of their funds in providing extra benefits to the school. Perhaps they could pay the salaries of one or two teachers who are needed and provide snacks to undernourished children. Some donations for libraries with librarians would also help. Personally I think this scheme is doable and should help. Not everyone is corrupt. The honest need moral support to stand up for integrity and honest work.

Of course, the question is: who will bell the cat?

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Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2024