OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM (OR) THE MEANING AND PURPOSE OF EDUCATION

There are different views about the aims and objectives of education:

The basic aim of education is to produce good and able teachers who should polish the abilities of their students and later compare these abilities with the available national resources and in the light of this comparison they should introduce changes in their style of imparting education.

The aim of education is to enable one to have understanding and practical approach with which one could exercise power and authority over one's world.

In the words of Ibn-e-Khaldun one should first acquire power of faith and then acquire knowledge and should try to ascertain the truth.

Imam Ghazali (RA) held the following opinion about the aim of education: The aim of education is utility. (His utilitarian point of view concerns both the individual and the society). He emphasises that education should help one have ethics (morals) so that one could differentiate between the good and the evil and could avoid the way which leads to evil.

In the words of Shah Waliullah: The objective of education is to contemplate to find out the reality and the truth.

Renowned American scholar John Devy gives his point of view: The aim of education is to enable one to continue his educational pursuits

Our System of Education:

Education is a must for every member of the nation. The process of education continues from the cradle to the grave. The secret of the survival of life lies in the education. The nation which lacks education dies soon. Education which is acquired through personal experiences lasts long. Today educational institutions are busy in the educational and academic activities and are busily transferring the cultural heritage to the younger generations. The system of education of every country reflects its requirements. Each country has its own ideology according to which the system of education is modified.

Pakistan is unfortunate in the sense that in spite of a clear goal, no arrangements have been made to achieve this goal. Our education system is not fulfilling the national requirements. There is no denying the fact that Pakistan came into being to uphold the Islamic ideology but our system of education has miserably failed to do the job. Lack of Islamic teachings in our education system has led to the separation of an integral part, East Pakistan. This shows that our education has collapsed miserably.

Prejudice is prevalent in our educational institutions which has caused irreparable loss to country's integrity and solidarity. Pakistan's aims and objectives have not been clearly mentioned in our education system. Our first and foremost important duty is to ensure country's solidarity. Ability and capability should be declared the basis of merit. All the citizens should have equal opportunities to secure national privileges. The number of educational scholarships should be increased. Students should be granted interest-free loans. It may be mentioned here that we inherited the present system of education from the British. It is a fact that the British had no interest in our education system. The English, setting aside our old and useful system of education, framed a new education system which was aimed at alienating the Muslims from their religion, culture and civilisation. The new English system of education was shaped to mentally paralyses the Muslims. The second aim of this system was to produce a team of white-collared who could serve their British rulers in every possible way. The British somehow succeeded in producing such educated elite who were like their British rulers in mind and manner. Allama Iqbal could foresee the dreadful consequences of this system and portrayed them in his poetical masterpieces.

Although Islamyat was taught as a subject during the British rule yet its volume was negligible. The British succeeded in their conspiracy against the Muslims and the British effects could clearly be seen everywhere. The Muslims fell into the English trap so deep that even today they are the mental and psychological slaves of the English. The idols of slavery are still intact in their minds. Moreover, we paid no heed to achieve Islamic objectives.

The defects of our education system and the reforms needed:

Our education system needs immediate changes. But before any changes could be suggested, it is important to review the defects in our system of education. It is, however, imperative to have Islamic injunctions as the very basis of our education system so that the younger generations could mould their educational pursuits according to Islamic needs.

Educationists ought to chalk out a comprehensive plan so that it could be made clear in what proportions should the students be given the education of science, commerce, medicines, arts, technology, education, administration etc.

In our education system, no attention is paid to the mental and moral training of the teachers who are, in fact, the architects of the nation. As such, it is necessary to establish a training institution for the teachers. Separate colleges and institutions for women should also be established so that the concept of co-education could be abolished.

Educational institutions should be made autonomous so that the educationists could solve the education-related problems in a free atmosphere. Organised efforts should be made to enhance the literacy rate. English medium institutions do not fulfil the national requirements and accordingly such institutions should be abolished to create a compatibility in our education system.

The subject of English should be made an elective subject while Islamyat should be declared compulsory.

In addition to the defects discussed above, there are many others which need correction. The defective system of examination, lack of libraries, declining standard of education, increasing corruption among the teachers, non-availability of research facilities, insufficient boarding and lodging facilities for students are some of the problems needing quick solution. It is a pity that students are given only three hours to solve the question paper in examinations. It is very difficult for an intelligent student with vast knowledge to condense two years learning in three hours.

The government should put a ban on the test papers and guides available in the mark so that the students should turn their energies and attention towards prescribed textbooks to attain thorough knowledge. These guides and keys, no doubt, help the students pass the examination but such students can never have a command over the subject.