Public Schools Improve, Private Schools Shine in English

News Desk

Islamabad: A recent evaluation by the Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE) reveals that Grade 4 students in Islamabad have shown notable improvement, with 44 percent of public school students achieving a score of 41 percent.

In comparison, private school students, particularly in low-fee institutions, have excelled in English, with an average score of 46 percent.

The findings highlight significant progress among public school students, especially boys, who have made notable strides.

However, private schools continue to outperform public institutions, particularly among girls, in language proficiency. This report underscores the ongoing disparities in educational outcomes between public and private schools in the region.

During a policy dialogue on Thursday, PIE presented a comparison of public and private school performance. Senior Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, Sohail Akhtar, emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy to improve educational standards.

He highlighted various government initiatives, including teacher training, improved teaching materials, and better educational infrastructure.

Teacher Training

Senior Joint Secretary Sohail Akhtar called for efforts to reduce class sizes and increase the number of teachers in public schools to ensure that each student receives quality education.

He also advocated for a standardized framework to monitor educational quality across both public and private institutions to ensure consistency.

Dr Mohammad Shahid Soroya, Director-General of PIE, explained that the report assessed Grade 4 students’ academic performance based on the latest data from the National Assessment Test, supplemented by surveys conducted with students, parents, and teachers.

The analysis revealed that public school students in rural areas performed better than their private school counterparts, while private school students in urban areas outperformed public school students in the city.

Dr Soroya highlighted that the average class size in public schools is 41, while private schools have an average of 19 students per class, contributing to differences in individual attention.

Class Size Concern

In addition, the report showed that 65 percent of public school teachers hold a Master’s degree, compared to just 23 percent in private schools. Moreover, 73 percent of public school teachers have more than 11 years of teaching experience, while only 17 percent of private school teachers meet this criterion.

The higher teaching workload in private schools was also noted, with 33 percent of private school teachers teaching multiple classes per day, compared to only 4 percent in public schools.

Both public and private schools reported similar proximity to students’ homes, with 70 percent of students attending schools within 2 kilometers of their residence.

However, parents of public school students expressed concerns about teacher absenteeism, insufficient teaching materials, and large class sizes, while private school parents were more satisfied with teacher attendance and curriculum completion.

Standardized Framework

The report recommended enhancing the quality of monitoring in education, with a focus on increasing teacher training and numbers in public schools and reducing class sizes. It also suggested developing a standardized framework for private schools to ensure they meet basic educational standards.

In the policy discussion, Dr Mohammad Zigham Qadeer, Director of Research at PIE, and other experts emphasized the urgent need for standardized teacher training programs in public schools and reducing class sizes to improve student performance.

They also stressed the importance of incorporating parents’ feedback into policy planning and ensuring the availability of resources for both public and private schools.

The recommendations provide a crucial foundation for policymakers aiming to improve the country’s education system.