Education—what do we need?
At present there is a generally publicized statement that millions of children are out of schools and the deptt. Concerned has launched a movement to create awareness among the public with pictures of boys and girls to attract more children towards schools. This is a good idea but why are the children out of school in millions and why there is no law to force the people to send all their children to schools. If there is any law then it must be enforced and penalty be awarded to the negligent parents but when there is no such Law then it has to be enacted by the Assemblies and introduced. Of course there is no such Law exists anywhere in the country. Let me tell you my own experience of teaching and the disinterest of the people about 50 years ago.
When I was a young teacher after matriculation in a middle school of Chitral the strength of the students used to be less than 40- about 8 students per class as an average in a middle school. One day our Head Master contacted the SHO of the Tehsil and told him about the disinterest of the people in sending their children to school and also gave names of the boys ( girls were not considered at that stage fit for schools) and the families and even the names of the persons who were against schools. The SHO kindly sent a Constable and I was deputed to lead the constable to the families concerned and in one of the families after a cup of tea we were sternly told to get out and never repeat our mission. There was a row between the constable and a younger brother of the head of the family. I could not disengage the two wrestlers till they were both tired and breathless and thus left that area but the man brought his son to our school the next day where another row and brawl opened between the Head Master and the father of the child. The Teaching staff came to disengage the men. This was the level of interest of the people in those days but it was mostly due to poverty. There were no books, exercise books, uniform, shoes so the people were unwilling but;
Now the situation is quite opposite. The books are free from the government. There is also some stipend for girl students as incentive. The use of ‘maula Bux’ is no more in vogue as it was in practice then. The teachers are much more qualified and competent. There are much better opportunities for higher education and scholarships for position holders but there is no LAW for forcing the unwilling fathers to send their children to schools. The penalty should be harder and those who refuse to avail of such opportunities should be jailed and should be deleted from IHSAS and BISP.
Prof. Rahmat Karim Baig
