“Our Education System is in Crisis,” Warns Dr Khalid
News Desk
Islamabad: Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, has stressed the urgency of implementing the National Education Development Framework (NEDF) 2024, describing it as a vital response to Pakistan’s ongoing education emergency.
Speaking at the launch ceremony of the framework, prepared by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with provincial education departments, Dr Siddiqui warned that failure to prepare the younger generation could render millions irrelevant in the age of artificial intelligence.
The minister highlighted the indecision surrounding the medium of instruction whether it should be in local languages, the national language, or global languages and called for prioritizing education in artificial intelligence, engineering, mathematics, and IT. “Ignoring reality or avoiding the truth will not lead to meaningful progress,” he remarked.
Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Education Farah Naz, Federal Secretary of Education and Professional Training Mohiuddin Wani, and provincial education officials also attended the event.
Dr Siddiqui criticized the lack of execution despite numerous policies and roadmaps since 1951. He noted that while the Ministry of Education focuses on policy formulation post-18th Amendment, provinces are responsible for implementation.
He called for solutions to address over 26 million out-of-school children, teacher shortages, and other systemic issues.
Drawing comparisons with neighboring countries, he observed that China and India lifted millions out of poverty in recent decades, while Pakistan’s entrenched feudal system continues to hinder educational progress.
Federal Secretary of Education Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani described the framework as a comprehensive roadmap addressing school education, non-formal education, adult literacy, higher education, and technical training.
It identifies key challenges in access, quality, and equity, while emphasizing market-aligned technical education and diversified career pathways.
Highlighting Pakistan’s low literacy rate of 62 percent and the lack of foundational skills, Wani pointed out that only 12 percent of youth have access to higher education.
He attributed these deficits to resource constraints and implementation challenges stemming from Pakistan’s diverse socio-economic landscape.
Director General of the Pakistan Institute of Education, Dr Mohammad Shahid Soroya, presented an overview of the framework.
Minister Rahila Durrani, in a video message, urged federal and provincial counterparts to collaborate on addressing challenges such as teacher shortages and inadequate facilities in Balochistan.
Special Secretary for Schools Muhammad Iqbal reported progress in implementing digital solutions for teacher recruitment and transfers. Punjab, he noted, plans to align its education sector with the national framework within three months.
Sindh’s Special Secretary for Education Syed Junaid highlighted school upgrades, early childhood education, transgender inclusion policies, and efforts to reintegrate out-of-school children.
Meanwhile, Secretary Masood Ahmad from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa emphasized the impact of terrorism and natural disasters on education, pledging commitment to reforms that promote girls’ education.
The event concluded with a collective resolve for education reforms, urging collaborative efforts to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and overcome systemic challenges.
