Disparity in education

There has always been a hierarchy of schooling in Pakistan. The increasing range of private schools means that the difference between the provision of high and low quality education is growing. Private schools cost more than their public counterparts. While parents from all income backgrounds send their children to private schools, there is a strong correlation between wealth and enrolment in private schools. Children from private schools also get more paid coaching, after school hours, than those in public schools.

The government education sector in Pakistan makes a rather gloomy impression. Most of the government schools lack basic facilities like clean drinking water, electricity, washrooms and boundary walls. Bad governance and poor morale have produced an epidemic of teacher absenteeism. The education sector is highly segmented along class and status group divisions. All of these trends will exacerbate educational and later opportunity and income disparities in the society. Educational funds should be increased. Free books should be provided for poor students. Scholarships should be given to students so that their interest in studying and access to education can increase. The syllabi in both private and government schools should be the same.

Iffat Fatima

Karachi