Military-run schools

Capital suggestion
Pakistan’s public-sector education system comprises a total of 194,151 institutions and of the total 99 percent is being run by provincial governments. The military-managed Directorate of Federal Government Educational Institutions (Cantonment/Garrison) runs 311 schools and 44 colleges.
Intriguingly, the fee of Rs35 per student per month is the same both at FGEI(C/G)-run schools and the provincial government-run schools. Intriguingly, teachers at provincial government run schools and the ones at the FGEI(C/G)-managed schools come from the same pool. Intriguingly, the remuneration of teachers in both the cases is as per government Basic Pay Scale (BPS). Intriguingly, the budgetary allocation on a per student basis is almost the same at FGEI(C/G)-managed schools and provincial government run schools.
Surprisingly, learning outcomes are poles apart. Surprisingly, education outcomes are poles apart. Surprisingly, students from FGEI(C/G)-run schools perform way better than students from provincial government run schools in all standardised tests. Surprisingly, graduation rates of students from FGEI(C/G)-run schools are far better than their counterparts at provincial government run schools.
Consider this: The federal government and all the provincial governments collectively spend Rs504 billion a year on some 26.6 million students or an average of Rs18,947 per student. For the record, FGEI(C/G) was allocated a total of Rs3.8 billion out of the budgetary allocation of the Ministry of Defence for 185,369 students or an average of Rs20,500 per student.
Consider this: Teachers at provincial government run schools and the ones at the FGEI(C/G)-managed schools have similar academic backgrounds.
Consider this: Student characteristics of children attending provincial government-run schools and FGEI(C/G)-managed schools are quite similar. Other household level variables like father’s schooling, mother’s schooling, siblings, cellular phone(s), electricity, toilet(s) etcetera are similar as well. Other child level variables like the age of the child, gender or children taking private paid supplementary tuition are similar as well.
Consider this: All provincial government run schools follow the prescribed curricula of the respective Provincial Textbook Board – so does FGEI(C/G).
Why are output indicators of students at military-run schools far superior? Why are attainment indicators of students at military-run schools far superior?
Clearly, producing superior educational outcomes is not about money. Clearly, producing superior learning outcomes is not about educational budgets. Clearly, it is not about monetary resources.
What is it all about then? It is all about management of resources. It is about planning – ‘deciding what needs to happen’. It is about organising – ‘making optimum use of the resources’. It is about staffing – ‘hiring for appropriate jobs’. It is about directing – ‘determining what must be done’. It is about monitoring – ‘checking progress against plans’. And it is about motivating each and every stakeholder within the FEGI(C/G)-managed schools and colleges.
Military-run schools seem to possess three comparative advantages over provincial administrators: superior management of inputs, regulating the quality of the process-keeping it apolitical – and, finally, maintaining accountability of all stakeholders.
Clearly, for military commanders, education not just for their own sons and daughters but also for the military families under their command is a high priority area. Clearly, for civilian administrators, educating the masses under their administration is at the lowest of their priorities.
“Education is a matter of life or death for Pakistan” – Quaid-e-Azam
The writer is a columnist based in Islamabad. Email: farrukh15@hotmail.com
Twitter: @saleemfarrukh