KARACHI: Habib University (HU) hosted an enlightening book talk, shedding light on the multifaceted landscape of the country’s Kindergarten-Grade 12 (K-12) education.

The event served as a platform to delve into the profound themes explored in the book Agents of Change: The Problematic Landscape of Pakistan’s K-12 Education and the People Leading the Change, authored by late Amjad Noorani and Nadeem Hussain.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Hussain emphasised the crucial importance of civic engagement in addressing the challenges within Pakistan’s K-12 education system.

“To bring about meaningful change in our education system, it is imperative for all stakeholders to actively participate and work together towards a common goal of providing quality education for every child in Pakistan,” he said. The book talk, moderated by Assistant Professor Dr Muhammad Aatir Khan covered various aspects of the education landscape.

Mr Hussain highlighted the efforts of organisations such as The Citizen Foundation (TCF), Teach For Pakistan, and Zindagi Trust in driving change within the K-12 education sector and HU in the higher education sector.

The discussion delved into an in-depth examination of the different educational systems prevalent in the country. The talk drew insightful comparisons between public schools, low-cost private schools, middle-income private schools, elite private schools, madressahs, and non-profit organisations that run non-private schools.

Philanthropist Mushtaq Chhapra highlighted the success of TCF by pointing out that students like Mr Hussain, who received their education through TCF, were now pursuing their doctoral studies at UMass Boston University.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2023