I RECENTLY attended a compelling talk featuring academics and authors who have written extensively on education, teacher education, the training of educationists, and both single and multiple curricula. The speakers presented diverse perspectives on the strengths and shortcomings of our education system and underscored that education remains the only viable path to progress, emphasising the importance of maintaining a positive outlook.

The discussion was insightful and highlighted past initiatives, policy decisions, institutional contributions and elements adopted from Western models. It also prompted deeper reflection.

While the government is achieving notable diplomatic milestones on the world stage, such as facilitating a peace agreement between Iran and the United States, one cannot help but wonder how transformative it would be if it also engaged — at some appropriate time, of course — more deeply with the Iranian government and its educationists to understand their approach to education, and then to apply relevant lessons to our own system.

It was particularly striking to observe the strong educational credentials of Iranian ministers and officials, often highlighted on social media during the conflict. Their high academic qualifications, coupled with the intellectual depth and insight evident in their discourse, speak volumes.

Notably, the way Iranians frequently quote our national poet and philosopher, Allama Mohammad Iqbal, is rarely matched by the level of engagement the Poet of the East receives within Pakistan itself. This, perhaps, is food for thought.

Shireen Azfar
Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2026