PAKISTAN faces the dual challenge of an education emergency alongside a scarcity of resources. We can maximise our existing resources by using them more efficiently and pooling them for broader societal benefit. Countries like France and the United States have successfully pooled their university resources, enabling res-earchers and educators to share their expertise beyond their home institutions. Pakistan can adopt a similar approach.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) should take the initiative by conducting a survey to gather preferences from faculty members. Many faculty members in reputable Pakistani unive-rsities are likely willing to travel to remote and underdeveloped areas to teach, benefiting students in those regions.

The HEC could establish a bureau for economic and social research, modelled after the US National Bureau of Economic Research. This platform would facilitate the sharing of ideas among faculty members and researchers.

Besides, a panel of experts could pre-screen research papers to ensure their suitability for public discussion. This would allow professionals from various institu-tions, like the Planning Commission and the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, to share their insights.

Given the proliferation of private schools and their exorbitant tuition fee, these institutions should be required to provide free education to the children of employees who have served for over five years. As such, many universities, colleges and schools neglect this responsibility, sending a message that they prioritise paying students over their employees’ children. This policy needs to change.

Ummad Mazhar
Lahore

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2024