In defence of nationalising education


In politics, there are two major ideals; equality and freedom

The leftists are known for valuing equality over freedom and those on the right argue for the supremacy of freedom over equality

Those who value equality more believe in nationalisation of certain commodities and education is one such commodity

They want nationalisation for education in order to make it available for everyone, so a larger number of people can be educated even if the quality of education does not match international standards

This could have been good for Pakistan if it hadn’t been interrupted as it would have increased our overall literacy rate

If nationalisation was given a chance we would have had more educated people around now, and all of them might not have been doctors, engineers, and successful businessmen – but they would have understood the importance of education

Therefore, if nationalisation had been around for longer, more people would be sending their kids to schools today and the situation of education would have been improving

What comes to your mind when you think of Pakistan and education? I know that the author of the article, along with most others, believe that a commentary on how a select few academic professors teach and speak sums up our entire education system

And so if universities are hiring people who are not competent in public speaking and writing then there is something wrong with education in Pakistan or if there is a lack of research potential in the academic staff of a university – there is a problem

While the university system does need a lot of work and we do lack good professors, there is first a need to make sure that everybody in this country is getting the opportunity to go to an educational institution

This and only this, was the aim of nationalisation

But of course, the restless and always-ready-for-change public of Pakistan got tired of the idea of nationalisation and therefore welcomed Islamisation instead

Oh the horrors we have welcomed in the name of change! Anyway, the new dictator made sure that Bhutto was not only removed from power, but also from the face of earth (which was far from civilised)

Now that the idea of nationalisation has been dead for a long time, we now have this enormous disparity in education that seems like an unsolvable issue

There are certain schools that are bringing international standards of education (which is frankly quite debatable but that is at least what they claim) to Pakistan, but even the upper middle class has to struggle to afford these schools

Once students graduate from such schools, they go to good but outrageously expensive universities and after that – they are just too good for Pakistan

On the other hand, there are those who still don’t know how to spell the word ‘school

’ Moving towards the actual argument of this recent article, Sheikh Rasheed’s foolishness cannot be one of the factors that we judge nationalisation by

Whatever Sheikh Rasheed says in an international conference is his own folly

And if there is a rampant desire to discourage him then my advice is that people unite to shut him and his friends up by giving democracy a chance

Another important and ridiculous comment by the writer was his description of a good teacher

A good teacher, my dear friend, is not someone ‘who is not afraid to use a cane’ but far from it

To put it simply, a good teacher is someone who has the ability to induce love for learning in students

And that person does not have to be the best writer, the best speaker or the best researcher, but a simple person who can help students understand the importance of learning and make them want to learn



Date:18-Nov-2016 Reference:View Original Link