KARACHI, May 22: An overwhelming majority of the graduates produced by the current examination system turn out to be functional illiterate, with zero mental level.
These views were expressed by educationists at a seminar on “assessment of the present examination system,” organized by the Pakistan Press Foundation, here on Thursday.
EDO Schools Anwer Ahmad Zai, however, defended the system and said certain measures were being taken by the government to arrest the situation.
He said the Sindh cabinet had decided to that any primary school which would be opened in the province would not be gender-based or biased. Any male could be inducted in future elementary appointments.
This condition would be relaxed only where no qualified teacher is available. Moreover, all future appointments would be school-specific and if transferred, the vacancy would automatically cease to exist.
“These measures, announced by the cabinet, are expected to bear fruits and will help check the declining standard of education,” he added.
Referring to extraordinary burden shared by the government schools which is affecting their performance, he said that 99.99 per cent of the institutions run double shifts and due to this situation, the education duration has to be reduced to accommodate more students.
“Most of the students of the schools due to the same reason are unable to complete their courses.”
Hafiz Arshad Andhar, Principal, Government Degree College, Murad Memon Goth, said parents could only bring about a change in the present scenario. They share a major responsibility of producing functional illiterates, he added.
“Parents resort to unlawful methods and their desire to see their children becoming doctors and engineers, etc., promotes corruption.”
He called for inter-board transfers in the province to cause a dent in the corrupt mafia in the examination system as their prolonged posting at a place might promote corrupt practices.
Rayed Afzal in his presentation on the subject laid stress on primary education as it is was a base.
“Unless we strengthen our primary education and promote writing and communication skills among students, the pathetic system of education would continue to afflict us,” he said.
“Our education pattern is based on a 200-year-old system and has no relevance with our education requirements and needs to be revamped as it was yielding unfavourable and negative results.”
Waqar Bhatti, senior education reporter, said the prevailing education system is highly flawed, as it was marked by rampant corrupt practices and unrealistic objectives. He termed corruption as a major bane.
“Due to ever-rising corruption, one can easily secure intermediate and university level degrees without facing any hassle,” he said.
He emphasized the need for objective-based examination system which would immensely help evaluate the abilities of a a majority of the students.
Mubin Khaleli, IBA’s controller of examinations, highlighted the efforts of the institute to maintain its education standards and said it was recognized globally as it never compromised on quality. PPF director Samina Ishaq also spoke.—PPI