IN many schools across the country, a number of young students are about to make an important decision about whether to go for matriculation/ FSc or O/A level system.

The decades-old debate about the pros and cons of these two major systems of education in Pakistan persists to this day. But the sad role in this regard is now being played by school teachers and administration.

In most of the well-known schools and colleges of Pakistan, the criterion set these days is that those students who secure 60 per cent or more marks in the final examinations of Grade Eight should be allowed to join O level classes while those who don’t will have to go for conventional matriculation.

Such an attitude automatically creates a sense of superiority amongst the O level students and they look down upon matriculation students.

Schoolteachers and the administration must realise their responsibility of providing proper guidance and counselling rather than being the cause of such discrimination.

Teachers should help students realise the potential benefits of both systems and should help them select the one which suits their interests. Students must be able to decide at this stage the career they want to pursue in life and select the system of education accordingly. For example, those who wish in future to study in government medical or engineering universities should opt for the matriculation/FSc system. Whereas students interested in subjects like literature, fine arts, social sciences or those who plan to study abroad should go for O and A levels.

There is a dire need for our prestigious institutions to keep these facts in mind for the welfare of our future generations.

ZOONA SIKANDER
Islamabad