The education system in the country has never been short of challenges. That remains a sad constant in the larger scheme of things in a democracy still in its infancy. However, the devolution of the subject of education to provinces and the inclusion of Article 25-A, guaranteeing free and compulsory education for all 5 to 16-year-olds, had promised a change in the way education was treated in terms of policy, governance and basic rights.

Successive governments and all major political parties have projected an interest in shaping education and educational policies in a fashion that would enable the children of the country to compete with their peers in developed nations. The outcomes, to say the least, have not matched the stated objectives of the policies introduced by the governments. The latest policy measure to cause a stir has been the Single National Curriculum (SNC), introduced and launched by the previous federal government. The policy was presented as an effort to eradicate the lack of equity inherent in the prevalence of multiple educational systems in the country. Long story short, a new curriculum scheme was devised and introduced in a section of the school education system. The SNC was meant to be the saviour that would rid us of our education woes. That has not happened. Having incurred a huge expenditure, the proponents of the scheme are pleading good intentions and pointing out that at least some students and teachers will benefit from it. Its critics, including educationists, researchers and parents, point out that many a road to hell is paved with good intentions.

The new government has announced a review. The mechanics of the review and the government’s plans remain unclear. Meanwhile, deep-rooted systemic issues apart from the curriculum continue to plague the education system. From the challenges posed by an archaic assessment system to the large number of out of school children to the relationship between the language and medium of instruction and learning levels, this week we take a deep dive into our flawed education system.