Overcoming Educational Inequality in Sindh: A Path Forward
- Outdated Education System: Sindh's public schools rely on decades-old curricula and lack modernization, leaving students ill-prepared to compete globally.
- Infrastructure and Inequality: Poor facilities and limited resources in public schools, especially in rural areas, widen the gap between public and private education, exacerbating socio-economic inequality.
- Corruption and Inadequate Funding: Mismanagement of education budgets, corruption in grading systems, and insufficient investment hinder progress, depriving millions of children of quality education.
Education forms the foundation of a strong and prosperous society. It is not just the process of acquiring knowledge but also developing skills and critical thinking. Education plays a pivotal role in shaping a nation’s future. Developed countries prioritize education as a tool for progress, which has enabled them to emerge as global superpowers. Their success is largely attributed to their commitment to advanced textbooks and innovative learning materials. Unlike these nations, Pakistan’s education system, particularly in Sindh, lags due to outdated curricula, lack of modernization, and insufficient infrastructure.
A glaring disparity emerges when comparing the education systems of Pakistan and developed countries. Developed nations continually revise and upgrade their textbooks to include the latest advancements, ensuring their students are equipped to face contemporary challenges. In contrast, the textbooks in Sindh have remained unchanged for decades, perpetuating a stagnant learning environment. Students in Sindh are forced to study the same material that was taught to their predecessors, making education irrelevant to modern needs. This outdated system hinders the intellectual growth of students and their ability to compete in a globalized world.
The Sindh government must address this issue by introducing advanced textbooks and modernizing the education system. Digital textbooks and e-learning platforms, widely used in developed countries, could revolutionize education in Sindh. However, public schools in Sindh continue to rely on old, traditional textbooks, leaving students at a disadvantage. The private sector, with its modern facilities and updated curricula, is gaining prominence, attracting students from affluent families. Consequently, parents with better financial standing avoid enrolling their children in public schools, perceiving them as ineffective in providing quality education.
This situation exacerbates inequality, as middle-class families cannot afford the high fees of private institutions and are left with no choice but to enroll their children in underperforming public schools. If the public education system remains stagnant, the future of these students will be jeopardized. This disparity highlights the urgent need for reforms to ensure that all children, regardless of their socio-economic background, receive quality education.
The Constitution of Pakistan (1973) guarantees equal educational opportunities for all citizens. However, this ideal remains far from reality. A comparison with other provinces like Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), and Azad Kashmir reveals that Sindh lags in literacy rates and overall educational quality. While private institutions in Sindh thrive, public schools suffer from neglect and outdated practices. If private institutions can provide quality education, there is no reason why public institutions cannot adopt similar standards.
Countries like Japan serve as exemplary models. Despite the devastation caused by the atomic bombings in 1945, Japan prioritized education over immediate needs such as shelter and food. The Japanese government sought the best educators, understanding the transformative power of education. Today, Japan stands as a global leader in technology and innovation, demonstrating how education can build a strong and advanced nation. Similarly, Sindh must focus on reforming its education system to create a prosperous future.
The education system in Sindh is fraught with challenges, including a lack of proper facilities, outdated syllabi, corruption, and inadequate funding. Rural areas, in particular, suffer from isolation and limited access to education. The devastating floods of 2010 and the monsoon rains of 2022 further exacerbated the situation. According to government estimates, approximately 16,000 of the 36,648 functional public schools in Sindh were damaged, with 7,503 schools destroyed. Over 12,305 schools suffered partial damage, affecting the education of 2.4 million students.
A recent UNESCO report highlighted Sindh’s low Education for All (EFA) index, citing poor enrollment rates, low adult literacy, and gender disparities. Outdated syllabi further worsen the situation, as they fail to provide relevant and accurate information, stifling students’ intellectual growth. The proverb “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing” aptly applies here; teaching obsolete information can confuse young minds and hinder progress.
Corruption within educational boards poses another significant threat. Grades are reportedly sold to affluent students while deserving, hardworking students are deprived of their rightful achievements. This malpractice demoralizes competitive students and undermines meritocracy. Such practices not only destroy the credibility of the education system but also rob talented students of their potential futures.
Funding for education in Sindh is grossly inadequate. Despite allocating 22% of its budget to the education sector, a large portion is consumed by salaries. Additionally, much of the remaining budget is mismanaged, with funds either misallocated or wasted. Following the 18th Constitutional Amendment, education became a provincial matter, but funding has only decreased further. Sindh has failed to establish new educational institutes and currently has only twenty universities, which is insufficient for a province with a population of 60 million. The lack of resources and poor infrastructure further deprive students of their right to quality education.
Basic facilities in many schools are substandard. Schools in rural areas suffer from inadequate infrastructure, such as broken desks, lack of clean drinking water, and non-functional restrooms. In some schools, especially girls’ schools, there are no boundary walls or electricity. Despite being rich in resources, Sindh has failed to provide even the necessities for its students. This reflects the state’s disregard for education and its lack of will to improve the situation.
Out of 12 million children in Sindh, over 6.7 million are out of school. The literacy rate in urban areas stands at 73%, whereas in rural areas it drops to 39%. Girls’ education is in even worse condition, with many girls unable to attend school due to cultural and infrastructural barriers. The government of Sindh has not taken serious steps to address these issues, leaving a large portion of the population without access to education.
Despite the wealth of resources available in Sindh, the government’s failure to invest in education has led to a generation being deprived of its basic rights. If these issues are not addressed soon, the future of Sindh’s children will remain bleak. A massive overhaul of the education system is urgently needed to ensure that every child, regardless of their background, has access to quality education and the opportunities that come with it. Without such changes, Sindh risks further marginalization in an increasingly competitive world.
The author is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in English Literature at the International Islamic University, Islamabad.
