THIS is apropos of the recent news report in the print media regarding the launching of O and A level programmes in federal educational institutions. It is shocking that instead of improving our indigenous system of education (matriculation/intermediate), we are resorting to a foreign system of education.

India abolished O and A level programmes in 1964 and they have improved their indigenous system of education on firm footings.

Our country is starved of foreign exchange and we are already losing huge amounts of foreign exchange through O and A level system every year, apart from undermining our indigenous system of education.

I do agree that O and A level system of education is better than ours in vogue. The only viable solution to this problem is that we should sincerely identify the flaws, inadequacies and shortcomings in the syllabi, textbooks and system of teaching/examinations and rectify the same as early as possible.

Moreover, teacher training should be done on modern lines to make both teaching and learning creative and innovative. This big task should be solely entrusted to educationists of impeccable records without any political affiliations. There is no dearth of such people provided there is a political will for the same.

A. H. SUBHANI Rawalpindi