Reforming Pakistan’s Universties -- I

Thanks for this informative, if depressing, piece, doc.

Is an Urdu translation I can get my hands on? Please do let me know.

Being one of those who were at Quaid-i-Azam University and having been into discussions involving Dr. HB in his presence/absence, I can say I always found him vocal and criticising this country. I understand that there are problems and he is a genius but I don`t agree with the means/appraoch he has when addressing such issues.

You will see him criticising the country overall in international media more often than within Pakistan. Do you think he does not have a reach to the concerned? He is an important world-famous figure. He can say it all to Government directly in private meetings but he does not say what he is doing about it on proper places but always comes up being vocal and criticizing the system overl-all painiting Pakistan a collapsing country.

It is very easy to point at the problems; what you did about the resolution is what counts in my humble opinion. And Dr. HB is among those who has the reach to the concerned. He should better be bringing such issues on the table when meeting with concerned. If he has done that already, there is no need IMHO to tell the world what problems we are facing.

Just my two cents...

Part-I
Dr. Hoodbhoy’s article is full of bold facts and figures with a critical thinking over HEC’s silent revolution. I am his fane (because I did my MS & M. Phil from QAU), but there is something lack in his judgments and suggestions. I think it is due to his ‘natural sciences’ discipline. I would like to highlight and add precisely some more suggestions.

1. In students, Critical or creative thinking can be inculcate by providing/offering them knowledge of at least deductive and inductive logic. The course of logic should be compulsory in all discipline. It will make students ‘man of ideas’ rather preys of ‘idealism’. If we analyze any developed nation’s educational institutions, we will find a thing in common that is that they establish Philosophy department before any other department.
2. A healthy body makes a lofty mind. We have substandard food in universities, having no sports activities, and student have not encouraged for healthy and creative activities. Even during my study period in QAU, I putted applications again and again for exercise benches and tools but no request was entertained. It is all due to the subtle administrative policies. Extra-Curricular activities play a major role in personality building.
3. As far as HEC-1000 PhD scholarships are concerned, it is an inept policy. Though incentive for supervisors and unemployed students is attractive. I think HEC should take first step to re-graduate the Pakistani university qualified PhD’s from foreign universities. Those teachers would be able to generate international standards of researchers and teachers in Pakistan. Not only confine to University level teachers but college teachers and schoolteachers can also be trained by short courses by hiring foreign professional educationists. So, this structure should be reformed from grass root level.
4. Another significant factor, which is generating substandard level of education in Pakistan, Multi educational system. It is based on social classes. For poor government’s ‘taat’ (Urdu medium) school is best. For Middle Class private English medium schools are best, while for elite class Beaconhouse or Bloomfield and other foreign/ international school chains are best. Why not Ministry of Education understands that it is creating a great rift in society. Implement single system of education for all classes. Is it justice? For creating a sound political culture and social system, it is necessary to provide equal educational opportunities for all Pakistani minds. And implement uni-curriculum.
5. Please change the appointment system of lecturers or AP’s in universities. Do not appoint an inexperience young unmarried person, who plays with the destiny of innocent students in semester system. A PhD should be appointed as lecturer in first instance. There is a great need to reconstruct the policies.
6. HEC should also make it compulsory for every (current) PhD researcher to learn one European or Oriental or other language except English and other national languages. Thus they would be able to become true research scholars.
7. HEC should revise the method of evaluation for awarding scholarship. For Pakistanis, GRE is an alien term like democracy. Students should be evaluated by taking test from their own particular discipline. And there is no effective system to avoid cheating in the centers.
HEC should also encourage college teachers for PhD too.

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THe article indeed is very interesting with some true facts and some not so true ones in it. He seems to be laying a lot of stress on the comparison between mosques and libraries. I don`t think there is any need to make any such somparison. All that is badly needed in the country is enough finances for eduacation and to set up some very libraries which should have a lot of latest technology books in it. And first and foremost what the country needs badly is industry. Without any industry, there si no way taht technology and research work can be promoted in the country. Unforunately over the past two decades no stres has been laid on the engineering industry. That is the main reason why the students in Pakistan can just get the theoretical knowledge. The faculty even lacks industrial experience. Only libraries and books, I don`t think are the only solution. To give some direction to the youth, all the country needs is more budget to be allocated to education and industry.

Mass producing cheap and illetrate PHD`s is worthless it will not raise the standard of education in Pakistan. When the input is third rated you can`t produce good output. The grants of Universites have been doubled or trippled but this has not benefitted the students even slightly. The fees are sky rocketing the standards of carriculum are falling, nepotism is at its peek and the most dangerous thing is the recruitment and selection of third class alumni which is incapable of dealing with the students set aside the dynamics of the carriculm. This decision of HEC will produce nothing except jobless and knowledgeless persons who will be useless to Pakistan.

Atishraj
atishraj@hotmail.com

Mass producing cheap and illetrate PHD`s is worthless it will not raise the standard of education in Pakistan. When the input is third rated you can`t produce good output. The grants of Universites have been doubled or trippled but this has not benefitted the students even slightly. The fees are sky rocketing the standards of carriculum are falling, nepotism is at its peek and the most dangerous thing is the recruitment and selection of third class alumni which is incapable of dealing with the students set aside the dynamics of the carriculm. This decision of HEC will produce nothing except jobless and knowledgeless persons who will be useless to Pakistan.

Atishraj
atishraj@hotmail.com

Hmm ... interesting article. Obviously in his capacity as professor at QAU for such a long time, Prof. HB has made some very valid observations.
So Pakistan`s higher education is crap, whats news in that???
Prof. HB, as much as I appreciate your views and concern for your country, I really think you`re on the wrong track here. Pakistan`s higher education is crap because its crap all the way from the very beginning. Our basic education system is flawed. Students who have always been discouraged to ask questions since their school days will not magically grow up to be good researchers, they will quite naturally do what theyre brought up to do ... cram notes and pass exams ... nothing more, nothing less.
Pakistan doesnt require alot of funds or universities or phd students. All it requires is a proper mindset on the part of both teachers and students at the very basic level.