APROPOS the article ‘An unequal education’ (Aug 12). The country’s education system stands divided in three categories.

The most rapidly emerging system is that of ‘O’ and ‘A’ Levels, especially in the big cities. The second system is educational institutions run by the state while the third category consists of the madressahs. Parents get their wards admitted to institutions in line with their aspirations and pocket.

The elite English-medium school students do not have much in common with a madressah-going child.

This stratification in the education system will bring grief to the nation if not addressed by the state. The government must ensure that children studying in madressahs have access to the same economic opportunities.

Madressahs have evolved in line with today’s needs and offer modern education along with Islamic subjects. The state-run education institutions, however, are in need of improvement.

The state should monitor all categories of education systems in vogue and create a rapport among the different syllabi on offer.

M. Saleem Ansari

Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2016