RSU holds policy dialogue on improving access to education

Karachi

The Reform Support Unit (RSU) on Wednesday organised a policy dialogue on devising a collective strategy with concerned stakeholders in order to better the standard of education and make free and compulsory education accessible to all, ultimately leading to a developed society.

Part of the provincial education and literacy department, RSU had been consistently working towards formulating policies to make quality education accessible to all children of the province, claimed an RSU official while addressing the panellists for the session.

The speakers included former governor State Bank of Pakistan Dr Ishrat Husain, secretary education and literacy department Dr Fazlullah Pechuho, chancellor Szabist University Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho and CEO Aman Tech Atyab Tahir. 

The event was hosted by RSU policy coordinator Prof Aijaz Qureshi while the session was moderated by the unit’s chief programme manager, Faisal Ahmed Uqaili.   

Dr Husain during the discussion spoke of importance of access to quality and relevant education in order for a society to grow.

He said the basic units which needed facilitation were districts and devolving education to this level would prove fruitful for an overall change in the system.

He stated that reforms such as increasing salary packages for teachers of remote areas would initiate changes, whereas a better monitoring system would ensure better enrolment.

Dr Husain stressed upon the importance of high quality technical and vocational education for there to be a link between educational and market needs. 

Dr Azra spoke on how education was heavily influenced by the urban rural divide as well as a vast gender divide.

“The education department alone is not strong enough to bring about such a large change in such a short span of time,” she claimed.

Quality of education could be evaluated through a standardised achievement test, an improved examination and assessment system, and through effective teacher trainings, she added.

According to Dr Pechuho the missing link between market need and education was the absence of proper vocational training. He said the budget was weak and imbalanced, with the largest part of the amount being spent on salaries of teachers.

The secretary also spoke about measures taken to counter recruitment done without consideration of merit.

Weak human capital results in a poorly skilled workforce, and at the school level increases the number of initial and transitional dropouts, he said.

“We need to overcome administrative challenges to rid our province of these issues. Efforts to this effect have been made by introducing a strong monitoring and evaluation system introduced by the education and literacy department.”

On the importance of vocational training in Pakistan Atyab Tahir said, “Vocational, technical and basic education may be taken as branches of a single system. The important factor is inculcating awareness among parents for vocational education.”

Provision of better infrastructural facilities and technology inside the classroom and adequate teacher training was an integral part of producing a skilled workforce, he added.