Education: public-private partnership

DAWN editorials on the subject of education and the gleanings from the valuable 'Letters to the Editor' have candidly exposed the ins and outs of the education standard prevailing in our country. It is the height of ignorance that students of primary classes can hardly read or write a word or a sentence of Urdu or regional language. These offspring of today would, of course, be the custodians of this country in the future. On the other hand, education emergency is imminently needed to provide educational facility to the fast-growing population. It has reasonably been pointed out that once the building for school is raised, then textbooks, students and teachers help determine the standard of learning and teaching being imparted in classrooms. Indeed, these three components sail in the same boat and they all must row in one direction to reach their destination. The standard of education primarily depends on teachers' methodologies used in the class to complete the curriculum effectively. Today many innovative techniques have been evolved to teach every category of students. In a class, students are present with individual differences, and a well-versed and dedicated teacher, especially at the school level, treats the students individually and collectively in the course of teaching. The play-way method of teaching is exercised in lower primary classes. Similarly, intensive and extensive listening methods are recommended for lower and secondary classes. Teachers must be encouraged to adopt the latest methods of teaching to make studies interesting, inspiring, and informative. Facilities for teachers' refresher courses on modern teaching methodologies need to be furnished intermittently. Changing the world needs an improved education system. Social, political, and economic problems have badly influenced the spirit and enthusiasm in the teaching profession. It is said 'those who can, do, and those who can't, teach. These de-motivated and incompetent teachers also contribute to the plummeting of education standard. The economic disparity in society has fostered tuition culture and the teachers are more concerned about their tuitions than teaching in classes. Parents take pride in arranging tuitions for their wards. Public and private sectors and parents together can improve the standard of education according to capacity. M.SALEEM ANSARI Karachi