When we first met Dr Shamim, a decade back during our first few days of ragging at the start of medical college, not doctors as yet, we were astonished to learn that he was well-versed in all the medical terminologies. His basics of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, the only courses that a medical student would study in the first two years of MBBS back then, was already immaculate at the time. I felt threatened. After all, we had both just got admission into the medical college after almost identical entry test scores.

He later told other students that he had learnt most of the things during his A-Levels. He said his Biology teacher would always strive to take their level of understanding a notch higher.

It was very degrading for me to realise that despite being an above-average student from one of the best schools belonging to the local board, there existed a wide gap between my class fellow’s knowledge and my own.

Up till that moment I would be told by my father about people who had studied in government schools, Urdu-medium schools, etc., who still went on to do great things in life. But the reality couldn’t be more far-fetched. Education, too, is somewhat ‘branded’ these days.

Rehan, a salesman and a recent MBA graduate from a small MBA institute, feels deprived. “This is plain discrimination. All the job advertisements for management and marketing posts in multinational corporations and other large organisations clearly indicate that the candidate should belong to any of the three or four already identified institutes,” he says.

He believes that the corporate website portals for online resume submissions also filter him out before even being considered for an interview. He uses his own public relations for lining up interviews now.

Dr Tuaha was taken aback when he was twice not able to clear the local entry examinations for further specialisation. The fact that he easily cleared the medical licensing exam for different foreign boards with flying colours only confirmed his apprehensions about not being judged fairly by the local examining board. “I never needed their approval anyway. I knew how capable I was. And that’s the only reason why I easily cleared my licensing exams abroad. I thank God that I have such a supportive family so that I can leave all that behind. But sometimes I do feel sorry for the students stuck in this unproductive system,” he shared before leaving for Canada, somewhat disheartened but determined and zealous, too. He felt upbeat knowing he was more likely to be judged on merit and his abilities alone in that society.

The inequality, injustice and the divide being perceived by students here only triggers brain drain. Lack of provision of level playing grounds for evaluation and job placements for students only rubs salt in their wounds.

However, despite the bleak picture there are some basics and golden rules that will always remain. For instance, hard work and consistency always pays off. It might be late or delayed but eventually it pays. It is always difficult for a wrong, non-deserving person reach a good position and stay there for long without being noticed. Most of all, especially for the students, ‘Failure is always temporary, only giving up makes it permanent!’

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