EDUCATION in Pakistan was once free and its standard in all public sector institutions was high. Gradually the standard deteriorated owing to political interference and nepotism.
Private schools, colleges and universities started cropping up because of the falling standards of public sector institutions. The affluent class switched to private institutions and the poor class remained dependent on the public sector.
Moreover, the self-finance scheme in public sector institutions resulted in mediocre students from the elite class depriving the poor but meritorious students.
The self-finance scheme has flourished to the extent that two separate medical colleges were established under Dow University of Health Sciences and Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences in which the fee is charged in foreign currency. Thus higher education became a profitable business.
There should be one system of education for all. It should be either the Cambridge international examinations (O and A levels) or the old traditional matriculation system. It is better to follow the international pattern.
There should be no self-finance schemes in government institutions since public sector schools, colleges and universities are the only source of education for the poor who should not be deprived of their right to education.
