Wither higher education sector in Pakistan?

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Wither higher education sector in Pakistan?

ARTICLE (November 22 2009): As is the case with every other public sector institution, the once-prestigious organisation of higher education, the University of the Punjab, Lahore has since long-lost its previous glory and intellectual acclaim; notwithstanding the fact that three Nobel Laureates were associated with this ace academe; which shows the high calibre of academics and the rich research heritage of this institution, once a high-seat of learning.

The decline of academia has resulted in the fall of quality education and now none of Pakistan's 126 Universities stand in the world ranking of the top 500 universities; while according to the 'Academic Ranking of Top 100 Universities' for the year 2008, the share of USA in the world's top 100 universities is 54%; and it also stood 159th in top-500 universities of the world.

In USA, the top 25 Universities have $10.25 billion research budgets in toto; of which 66% is won from federal funds. In addition, their large endowments are, in part, used to fund research innovations. One wonders when Pakistani universities will stand high among the top 100 universities of the world. But for that, we need a strong presence of intellectual environs; research laboratories, proactive faculty and the commitment of students, as some of the perquisites to realise this dream.

Atomic Pakistan's public education sector counts amongst the less-developed in the world. Pakistan's early educational inheritance was a difficult one; only 16.4 % of the total population was able to read and write, as indicated by the 1951 education census. Viewed in this light, there has been some success. A 2006-2007 report by the German Federal Statistical Office shows that the literacy rate in Pakistan has risen to 55%, but enhancing equitable access to higher education still remains a formidable challenge as enrollment in higher education is only 4.7%.

It should be a matter of concern for us that Pakistan is lagging far behind in the education sector in the world perspective; our universities only give degrees and ignore research and innovation. And, this is the collective dilemma of the whole of Muslim world that they stand nowhere in research and development (R&D) and the education sectors. We fail to realise that the highest level of national strength is not gold, oil or anything else, but an educated and trained human resource is the real worth of a nation. And, it is the universities which develop this human resource.

Everywhere in the developed world, universities foster equity and a "level-playing field" through the dissemination of knowledge and ideas by way of students education, faculty interaction, collaboration with the industry, community outreach activities, and through a variety of virtual-world mechanisms. Western Universities have become indispensable players in the advancement of scientific knowledge, which continuously generates new generations of applied research, scientific breakthroughs and streams of new products that enhance our lives and strengthen our economy. The Pakistani nation yearns to see our universities to be like this.

Our Universities must prove themselves as the best research and development institutions, which should also carry out research in all fields and give market-driven knowledge and understanding to their students and teach them how to succeed with innovative ideas.

There is also a dire need to inter-connect universities with policy-planning institutions, so that the policy formulation process could be improved. And students should also be trained as future leaders; capable of effectively running the state institutions, whilst working as a team player.

They should learn to exploit individual potential into collective strengths, beneficial for the society. Higher education, therefore, must be an ideal blend of qualitative academic studies and research, which should infuse a cosmopolitan vision in the students and they would in turn, emerge as the best leaders and policy planners to lead the country.

Our education sector has many institutional problems, especially with fragmented governance. Several different institutions are responsible for both general and vocational education, yet there are no reciprocal agreements. In this situation, we should be committed to providing all facilities to students so that they are able to compete in a global competitive atmosphere.

The students should prove the best 'change management agents' in their practical lives. They must remember that education is not a means of getting good jobs, but is an express ladder to break the shackles of vicious poverty circle and ignorance.

There is no doubt that Universities are our greatest asset against poverty, ignorance and dictatorship. They are the real 'innovation accelerators', which must also infuse new ideas and vision in the students. In fact, Universities are the high-seats of learning for the future generations; giving them fresh awareness about developments in research.

Character building and career counselling are another stipulations which should be given due importance by teachers, as we need spirited leadership. Universities' administration should also give a cosmopolitan environment to students in the campuses, so that they emerge as self-reliant individuals, capable of analytical thinking and global citizens.

The capacity of a society to introduce beneficial innovation is vital to its economic success and its social and cultural vitality. Most of this innovative capacity is derived from research, and since the middle of the 19th century, most research has been done within universities. It is also a powerful training ground for developing the creativity of researchers, whose skills may then be directed towards strategic and applied goals.

We are an established atomic power now, but the realisation of the dream of economic self-reliance is a much bigger challenge and this daunting task can be met by developing a reasonable infrastructure of quality education across the country, besides ensuring equal opportunities for all.

WE SHOULD NOT FORGET THAT! "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and re-learn".