The Politics of Education

Article Type

Article

Description

Education in Pakistan has remained neglected for 75 years, with little political demand or public pressure to prioritize it. Politicians focus more on infrastructure than on quality learning, while political meddling has undermined institutions at ideological, policy, and administrative levels. Historical divisions, madrassa expansion, and curriculum politicization further weakened the system and fueled extremism. Despite constitutional commitments like Article 25-A, spending on education remains among the lowest in the region, with security challenges and inequitable resource distribution worsening inequalities. Reforms such as Education for All and the 18th Amendment made little impact due to poor governance and underfunding. The elite rely on private or foreign systems, leaving public schools and madrassas for the poor. Without a collective political will and equitable reform, education will continue to reinforce inequality rather than enable mobility and national progress.

Publication Source

The News International

Publication Date

12-4-2022

Pages

online

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