Call to make urgent reforms in higher education

LAHORE : Speakers at a session on higher education in Pakistan on the first day of the 7th edition of Afkar-e-Taza ThinkFest here on Saturday made a call to take action for comprehensive reforms to address systemic challenges and revitalise higher education in Pakistan.

Speaking at the session “Why is Higher Education in Pakistan still Broken?” the speakers expressed concerns over lack of quality higher education and emphasised on the urgent need for reforms in higher education. The discussion also focused on relieving burdens on teachers and achieving a balanced approach to content delivery, examinations, marking, and publications. The speakers also revealed a misalignment between grades achieved and practical knowledge acquired.

Vice Chancellor of the Information Technology University (ITU) Lahore Prof Dr Adnan Noor Mian highlighted consequences on students' job market performance due to the broken system.

Meanwhile the launching of novelist and academic Dr Osama Siddique’s book “Gharoob-e-Shahar ka Waqt” was also held on the first day of Afkar-e-Taza ThinkFest 2024. Dr Osama was also joined by noted policy advisor Dr Faisal Bari, while the session was convened by Amna Mufti, herself a novelist and playwright. While introducing his book, Dr Osama revealed that “writing this novel was an unnatural process.

I began writing it in English, but a foreign language couldn’t do justice with the story, nor did I enjoy writing in English.