|
|
August 13, 2006
Backtalk
Been there, done what?
THIS is with reference to Sheherbano Hussain’s interview titled “Been there, done what?”(August 6, 2006). It is always very interesting to read about other people, particularly those who are involved with the arts and Ms Hussain’s interview was no exception. It is heartening to learn that young people today want to accomplish so many things and are working hard to achieve that goal. Clearly, the current Pakistani generation is hardly a jaded lot, contrary to popular belief.
AHMED MEHBOOB
KARACHI
The real cost of learning
THIS is with reference to Mehreen F. Ali’s article titled “The real cost of learning” (August 6, 2006). The writer makes very valid points about the state of affairs of textbooks that are being used in most schools across the country. Given the increasing cost of textbooks along with the substandard educational material that is found between their pages, parents can’t help but wonder what purpose such an education achieves. One is forced to spend astronomical sums of money on textbooks each year only to realise that their other child will not be able to use the same book on account of negligible revisions and updations that publishing houses carry out. How can parents send their children to good schools when they know that the cost of education (including textbooks) will increase every year? Many a times, parents have no choice but to send one of their children to a good school while others are forced to go to poor quality schools found in the city.
As a parent, I feel that publishing houses in the country should be taken to task for increasing the price of textbooks every year. There should be a system of checks and balances to ensure that prices remain constant for at least a few years and even if prices must be increased, the grounds for the increase must be substantiated before the authorities concerned. Not only this, but schools should also actively discourage the use of these so-called “revised” textbooks that are brought out by publishing houses each year. Perhaps one textbook can be used for three years or so to make sure that parents are not burdened by the cost of buying expensive textbooks each year. Only then can parents send all their children to good schools without worrying about the price of textbooks or the ever-increasing school fees.
MUBASHIRA FAHEEM
LAHORE
|
|
|
