What happens to a nation when its education loses direction? Martin Luther King Jr, in an essay published in 1947, offered an alarming warning that still echoes today: “If we are not careful, our colleges will produce a group of close-minded, unscientific, illogical propagandists, consumed with immoral acts. Be careful, brethren! Be careful, teachers!”
Almost eight decades later, these words remain strikingly relevant to Pakistan’s education system, where securing a high percentage in examinations is more important than the ability to think, reflect and innovate.
This is not just an academic and theoretical concern; it also reflects the growing cracks in our educational systems. With a rising number of students securing more than 90 per cent marks in Matric and Intermediate examinations, one might think that Pakistan is on the verge of producing world-class scientists, engineers and philosophers. The reality, though, tells a very different story.
If marks in examinations were the true measure of genius, Pakistan would already be leading the world in science and technology. As a matter of fact, high scores often tell little about students’ intellectual depth; rather, they expose the education system where memorisation and rote learning have replaced inquiry, curiosity and personality growth.
In such an environment, colleges and universities, which are supposed to be incubators of creativity and innovation, have become factories that produce graduates who are poorly equipped to face emerging national and global challenges.
Education is not merely about producing degree-holders. It is about nurturing the minds that are capable of questioning, reasoning, critical thinking and upholding ethical values. If our teachers neglect fostering critical thinking, scientific reasoning and ethical values, we risk raising generations of students who are not thinkers, but followers who are easily influenced by propaganda, intolerant of difference and detached from both logic and moral responsibility.
One of the major issues in our current education system is the examination and assessment system. The examination system has become a high-pressure race where a student’s future often depends on the percentage they achieve in the test, creating immense pressure for them. The focus on rote memorisation leads to a narrow understanding, and the assessment methods, which are mostly written exams, provide little opportunity to test creativity, problem-solving or practical skills. Replacing one-time, high-pressure exams with continuous assessment can reduce the burden on students and provide a more accurate representation of their learning and attitudinal changes.
From an employer’s perspective, exam grades or percentages are only of secondary importance. What truly matters for them are problem-solving abilities, communication skills, leadership, teamwork and ethical values.
Grade-driven education, with little emphasis on skills and a scientific attitude, produces graduates who often struggle to secure meaningful employment, both at home and abroad. Employers quickly realise that while many candidates have impressive percentages, they are deficient in the practical skills, confidence and adaptability required in the modern workplace. In a global knowledge-based economy where creativity, critical thinking and collaboration are valued, a system obsessed with percentages and rote learning leaves our graduates at a serious disadvantage.
A robust education system is vital for national progress, but Pakistan’s directionless educational system has failed to provide social and political grounding or produce skilled manpower. Overemphasis on general education, lack of emphasis on skill development and neglect of critical thinking have fueled unemployment, deprivation and unrest in society.
Nevertheless, there is potential to transform its education system into a true engine of progress. If our teachers and parents move beyond the obsession with grades and instead prioritise the development of critical thinking and ethical values, our classrooms can become spaces where young minds are inspired to innovate, lead and serve.
Instead of measuring student learning only through exams, Outcome-Based Education, which focuses on clear learning outcomes such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and practical application of knowledge, should be integrated into the education system. This approach ensures that teachers are not supposed to just cover the syllabus, but they have to prepare students with the skills and competencies needed for real-world challenges
As the world celebrates International Teachers’ Day today, it is worth asking why our education system has struggled in its role of nation-building. The warning Martin Luther King Jr gave in 1947 is not just a voice from the past; instead, it is reminding us that our future depends on how our teachers shape the minds and hearts of the youth.
We can turn today’s challenges into opportunities by preparing a generation not just to find jobs, but to create them, and not only to adapt to the future, but to shape it. The journey may be challenging, but an educated and empowered youth has the key to the nation’s future.
The writer teaches at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad and is a consultant at SDPI, Islamabad.