WHAT I saw during a recent visit to a public school was deeply saddening. Classrooms were in disarray, teachers were absent, and students struggled to answer even the simplest questions with any degree of confidence. Their textbooks were as worn as they were outdated. This struck me even harder because just days earlier, I had helped my cousin, a private school student, with her science project.

That experience was worlds apart. Vibrant presentations, interactive videos and animated lessons had instilled in her a confidence that shone through in everything she said or did during the assignment we had been working on.

It is hard to believe that both sets of students attend the same number of classes and complete the same academic levels, but their learning environments, personalities and career opportunities happen to be entirely different. The existing education system in the country divides, not unifies, the nation.

Public-sector schools focus solely on rote memorisation, exam preparation, and repetitive note-taking. In contrast, most private schools put emphasis on interactive learning, communication skills, and personality development. If one curriculum is outdated, the other is updated. This leads to the social divide that many find seriously alarming.

Pakistan can learn from Finland, which consistently ranks among the best in terms of education. All students have to follow a unified curriculum and are taught with a single methodology, ensuring equal opportunities for all students.

While challenges, such as limited budgets, insufficient teacher training, and scarce human and material resources, are undeniable, progress is still possible.

Through meaningful cooperation between educational boards and policy- makers, along with targeted investments and due strong political support, Pakistan can implement a unified and updated curriculum in schools. Such a shift can reasonably reduce academic inequality, and build a more empowered, capable, smart and equitable youth population.

Tabia Khalil
Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2025