DIALOGICAL APPROACH: In his seminal work, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Freire’s interactive method of dia-logical or problem-posing education highlights the importance of dialogue, critical thinking and collaboration between learners and educators. Learning should be a two-way process where teachers and students engage in meaningful dialogue, rather than relying on the conventional banking method, where teachers deposit knowledge into passive students. This interaction fosters critical thinking and problem-solving techniques. By ditching outdated practices and adopting Freire’s dialogical approach in our education system, we can cultivate a generation of critical thinkers and problem-solvers who can lead Pakistan to a brighter future.

Habib Dahani
Kandhkot

ATROCIOUS CHARGES: It is high time to get rid of the atrocious fixed charges billed to the natural gas consumers in the non-protected category. All consumers, especially residential consumers of nat-ural gas, should be in the protected categ-ory regardless of the amount of previous bills. Also, the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Company (SNGPL) should strike down its current formula, and charge consumers in line with the units consumed. The authorities should reimburse all the money previously charged to those in the non-protected category along with the general sales tax (GST). This should be considered a high-priority case.

Syed Aqeel Sarwar
Lahore

UNJUST REACTION: Sindh is a land of peace, tolerance and Sufism. These elements have been an integral part of the poetry, music and literature produced by the locals. However, it was strange that when Sindhi intelligentsia recently staged a protest against continuously growing extremism in the province, police maltreated the protesters by physically manhandling them. The police also baton-charged the protesters. They had the right to assemble and spread the message that religious extremism is not acceptable on the soil of Sindh.

Muhammad Hassan Abbasi
Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2024