PCS recommends drastic reforms in education system
 

PESHAWAR, Oct 16: The Public Service Commission (PCS), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has asked the government to introduce a uniform medium of instruction in schools and colleges, offering a level-playing field for candidates appearing in the competitive exams.In its fresh annual report, the PCS has pinpointed a number of flaws in the existing education system and suggested reforms for improvement of educational standard and service efficiency.

In the present education system, the private/model schools follow English medium while in government schools Urdu is the medium of instruction. “Such a dichotomy in the system has led to the creation of two separate classes of educated youth with different sets of mind and standard of education,” the report said.

It has been noticed that candidates from Urdu medium schools couldn’t compete with those coming from English medium institutions while vying for same jobs, it said.

“Therefore, there is need to adopt a uniform medium of instruction in public and private schools and colleges with one set of books and syllabus so as to provide equal job opportunities to the educated youth,” the report maintained.

Though education is imparted in four tiers, including elementary, secondary, college and university, it has been noticed that teachers complain at each level that they have to teach basics of the subjects which the students should have studied at the lower level. There was no coordination between the university and college, college and secondary, and secondary and elementary levels for the purpose of syllabi, teaching methods and educational pursuits which were being carried out in isolation in each tier, it noted.

“The education system needs close coordination and linkages between all its tiers. In this connection, not only review of the syllabi will be required, but refresher courses are needed for college lecturers in the universities and for school teachers in the collegees during vacations to improve their teaching skills,” the report said.

The PCS has also pointed out flaws in education system, saying that majority of those holding master’s degree in science subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Botany etc, couldn’t answer simple questions of Pakistan Studies, Islamiyat and about government institutions which they should have learnt at secondary school level.

For instance, an MSc candidate failed to answer the question where Minar-e-Pakistan is located and what was its historical significance, the report said.

The PCS has recommended that courses at university and college level in specialised subjects should include important events and points from Pakistan Studies, Islamiyat and current affairs.The “Notes-Culture” at college and university levels has deterred the students from an in-depth study of the subject to obtain educational excellence. The PCS has asked the government that such practices should be curbed and the concerned authorities should evolve a system of examination so that the teachers complete the courses in a given time.

The PCS has noted that private students qualify examination through selective studies and memorisation without completing the course contents. The commission has asked the universities to carry out a careful analysis of the issue and evolve a system where private candidates could be awarded degrees only when they attain the required educational standard.

The PCS has noticed that the universities have neither adequate research facilities nor they gave any importance to research work. Research should be made an important component of studies at master’s level so as to upgrade the standard of education.

“The government may, therefore, consider constituting a task force of all stakeholders, authorities and educationists to address the issues raised in this report and recommend practical measures for improvement of education standard in the province,” the PCS said in its report.