A Song That Questions How We Educate Children

News Desk 

Karachi: Singer and social activist Shehzad Roy has released a new song highlighting deep-rooted problems in Pakistan’s education system, using satire and storytelling to question whether current educational practices nurture children or place undue pressure on them.

Released on World Education Day, the song titled “Late Ho Gaye” features students from schools run by Roy’s non-profit organisation, Zindagi Trust, and focuses on the emotional and psychological challenges faced by children from an early age.

The music video opens with a striking scene in which Roy questions parents about enrolling an unborn child into school. When the parents hesitate, Roy appears onscreen delivering the blunt line, “Late ho gaye,” immediately setting the tone of the song.

Through a series of satirical sequences, the video sheds light on pressures faced by children even before they enter classrooms. One segment highlights elite school admission processes that require toddlers to attend interviews, forcing parents to prepare their children far earlier than necessary.

The song also addresses the linguistic confusion experienced by students who speak regional languages at home but are expected to learn in English at school, underscoring the emotional strain caused by this disconnect.

Another theme explored is the relentless tuition culture, which leaves children with little time for rest, creativity or personal growth. Scenes in the video depict students moving directly from school to evening tuition, visibly exhausted.

The video further critiques distracted parenting, portraying how excessive screen use often replaces meaningful interaction between parents and children.

Roy concludes the song with a call for parents and educators to reconsider education as a process of holistic growth rather than constant competition, urging a shift toward understanding, balance and empathy in raising children.