William Dalrymple’s article published in the Guardian is an insightful piece that attempts to be unbiased and reflects on some pertinent issues that afflict Pakistan. The piece examines the media stereotype – successful India and failed Pakistan – a little deeper and identifies a creaky education system as one of the major issues with the country.
While this is no news for us Pakistanis, it nevertheless makes us think why this crucial issue is not highlighted by the opinion-makers in Pakistan. There are endless debates on national media on politics and government-opposition stand-off. Perhaps the Pakistani upwardly mobile classes are a little removed from this debate since they have long abandoned the state run education facilities and chosen the private sector services. Hence the disconnect.
Dalrymple writes:
…its desperate education crisis. No problem in Pakistan casts such a long shadow over its future as the abject failure of the government to educate more than a fraction of its own people: at the moment, a mere 1.8% of Pakistan’s GDP is spent on government schools. The statistics are dire: 15% of these government schools are without a proper building; 52% without a boundary wall; 71% without electricity.
…. out of 162 million Pakistanis, 83 million adults of 15 years and above are illiterate. Among women the problem is worse still: 65% of all female adults are illiterate. As the population rockets, the problem gets worse.
It can be argued that improved political system and democratic governance is essential to overcome this state of affairs. However, this may not be enough. After all, Malaysia achieved amazing success in building human capital under authoritarian rule. I am not suggesting that democracy is irrelevant but I think there is a deeper cause somewhere locked in our social and cultural ethos that needs to be identified.
Education requires utmost attention and advocacy by all those who want to see Pakistan progress and flourish in the long term.
“The Poor Neighbour†by William Dalrymple can be read here.
India has a very big middle class, even in terms of percentage in overall population, compared to Pakistan.
Also, feudalism of the form we hear about from Pakistan (Vadere) doesn’t exist in India. The only difference is I think in terms of continuous democracy.
In Pakistan, democracy has suffered due to successive military regimes and the political upheavals. Otherwise at least the politicians are forced to do something when their tenure is coming to an end and the fear of the power of vote, the angry electorate’s only weapon, prompts the politicians to do something.
Baaqi to sab kuchh ek jaisaa hi hai. Rishwat-khori, Sifarish, Khushaamad, sab meN ham log aas paas hi haiN.
Raza saab,
Excellent post, keep up the good work!
Feimanallah
Wasim
Nothing New!!! but William Darlymple
raza:
thanks for sending me this link:)
my two khota paisas worth!
i wrote in Pakistan At the Precipice: II- MIF Kakistocracy: Military-Industrial-Feudal Complex
and in the third part (same link) i wrote this:
There is one organization in Pakistan (that I know of; there might be others) which realizes our shortcomings in the field of education and are working day and night to improve the situation.
Visit the website below and help if you feel like…
http://www.thecitizensfoundation.org/