Interfering in education

Sound educational institutions remain a proven predictor of a nation’s success. Schools being brick and mortar structures, the medium to this predictor remains the teacher. Historian and educator Henry Adams asserted: “A great teacher affects eternity, no one can tell where his influence stops”.

Abbottabad, of the (once) pristine air and the (mowed down) chinar, poplar and pine trees is a hamlet tucked away between the hills. Renowned for its schools, the serenity it once exuded was blissful. One school that stood out was Burn Hall with an incorruptible policy of standard education.

The titanic shift in times can be gauged from the fact that the school was run by missionaries. Names like Reverends Nyzen, Scharder, Scanlon and Johnson are milestones in the lives of every old Hallian. Dressed in flowing white cassocks, red sashes round their waists, few could command the veneration and respect that these gentlemen did, so great was their dedication to those under their tutelage.

Each morning, students fell in line for the morning assembly. Reverend Scanlon, an imposing figure clad in his hallmark white, would say a prayer. Saying Amen in unison never made the pupils lesser Muslims. The national flag was raised and the boys and girls filed to their respective classes. An eagle with ‘Quo non ascendam’ (to what heights can I not rise), adorned the school badge. The faculty’s only focus was to realize this in the lives of each student.

Some might think of Burn Hall as an elitist school and a passport of the privileged; it was not. Students from ultra-rich families were far outnumbered by those from humble backgrounds. The faculty and staff scrupulously maintained at par treatment for everyone. Good performance was appreciated, those lacking were encouraged and given more attention so that they could perform better.

Then there was Cadet College Hasan Abdal (CCH). Boasting the legendary Hugh Catchpole as its founder principal, the striking similarity between the two institutions was the exemplary zeal and dedication of the principals and the teaching staff. In the 70s, CCH was led by the indomitable Col Niazuddin Hasan - ND (in private) to all his cadets; still respected and remembered today.

Within the CCH walls were sons of farmers, shopkeepers, businessmen, political stalwarts, bureaucrats, non-commissioned officers and generals; boys from absolutely different social and linguistic backgrounds. A very few were from the handful of Convent schools; most from public schools or those of the villages they came from.

The caste, creed and in some cases religions were different, yet the students developed a bond that withstood the extreme trials and tribulations of time. Today, when religious and moneyed pedigree is paramount, Abdalians consider themselves truly blessed for the undiminished comradeship that continues to bind them. The five years spent at CCH are essentially the period that moulded and defines each Abdalian’s life.

It was in 1974 that Shahnawaz Bhutto joined CCH. With flowing hair, he was escorted by his mother, the late Nusrat Bhutto. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the then prime minister, was at the pinnacle of his political power, yet Col ND Hasan informed Mrs Nusrat Bhutto that Shahnawaz needed a proper haircut. She complied immediately. However, the college barber was denied the ‘glory’ with his manual hair-cutting machine. Begum Bhutto just that once opted for her son’s cadet cut from ‘safer’ hands and tools outside the College.

Eton College epitomizes the hallowed status of Britain’s top private schools. A quote attributed to the Duke of Wellington says that the Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton. Apart from producing leaders in sports, sciences, arts and business, Eton has also an unparalleled record of producing 20 British prime ministers. Aitchison College is dubbed the Eton of Pakistan.

Institutions, the world over, prosper and gain stature and significance as they mature in years. As in all our affairs, this was not to be. The Aitchison website reads, “Our College prides itself on being a crucible of the potential leadership of our country”.

The recent resignation letter of Michael Thompson as principal of Aitchison cited “unwarranted interference, brazen directives” and “blatant policy manufacturing to accommodate certain individuals”. It also asserted that “politics and nepotism [have] no place in schools”. The resignation sent shockwaves through students, their parents and academic circles.

Nearly two months ago Syed Babar Ali, education, business and philanthropy doyen of Pakistan, had also resigned as chair of Aitchison’s Board of Governors (BoG) management committee. This was believed to be because of the BoG being subjected to nepotism. Sensing the principal in the crosshairs, Babar Ali Sahib stressed in his resignation letter that Michael Thompson had done more for the College than any other principal in the past ninety years. He also acknowledged the exemplary academic results and record admissions for students at Ivy League universities under his stewardship.

Politics is a power game; education is not. Educational centers are incubators for self-actualization and future leaders, be it politics, sciences, sports, art or any other field. Crass and consistent political interference at these centers by our power elite, as in all other institutions, has nothing to do with enhancing or promoting merit and quality. It is only exercised to enforce nepotism, a death knell for any institution whatsoever.

Aitchison’s history tells us that it was established by the British as an elite institution to educate “the relatives of the ruling chiefs of Punjab”. Still colonized by our power elite, this toxic mindset of entitlement, if left unfettered, shall be the bane of Aitchison as it has been of Pakistan.

The writer is a freelance contributor. He can be reached at: miradnanaziz@gmail.com