The role of the provision of education traditionally falls onto the state in any given democracy. This is seen as a natural and irreplaceable duty within key debates surrounding educational services. However, in recent times this essential role has been challenged in Pakistan owing to the growing private education sector.
In Pakistan, the education sector is monopolized by a handful of privately-run schools that maintain a stronghold in different cities. In Lahore, the big giants of education are Lahore Grammar School, which has over 10 branches, Aitchison College, a boys-only school established by the British in 1886, and Beaconhouse, which was established in 1975 by Nasreen Mahmud Kasuri.
On the other hand, in Islamabad, top schools include Headstart, Roots International, and Froebels. Karachi is ruled by Karachi Grammar School, Mama Parsi, Karachi American School, and The International School Karachi.
The general idea about private institutions in Pakistan is that they have been established by the elite to cater to the elite segments of Pakistani society. While that is true, in recent times, there has been a shift in the dynamics and reach of these institutions. In the wide variety of privately run schools, the presence of public schools is marginalized. Public schools are famous for being accessible to all, regardless of class, income, or creed.
On the other hand, private institutions operate almost like businesses, attempting to tap into any area of potential revenue. Adopting this line of thinking, these prestigious elite institutions have also established lower-tier schools, which impart the same quality education they are associated with, but at a far lower cost than their main counterparts. For Beaconhouse, this has taken the shape of The City School or The Educators. For Lahore Grammar School, this has taken the form of The ILM School.
Pakistan’s conception
When Pakistan was established in 1947, the state initially promised universal primary education but also sought help from ‘other actors’ in society to participate in providing education. This was meant to justify the need for the participation of non-state actors due to the acute lack of resources. Hence, madrassahs (schools associated with religious learning in Pakistan), Christain missionary schools like Mama Parsi and Convent of Jesus and Mary, and schools run by entrepreneurs have existed in abundance since then.
Therefore, the private sector of education has emerged as the main provider of education in recent times in absolute and relative terms with regards to the private sector. Between 2000 and 2007-8, the number of private schools has grown by 69% compared to the meager growth of 8% of public schools.
While the establishment of private schools has a historical basis in Pakistan, other key factors have enabled the stronghold of private institutions within Pakistan despite the high costs of education and the expanding fee structures of these schools. Also, there are many hidden costs to private education, from books and registration, to transport and funding for extra-curricular activities which look good on transcripts.
Lack of faith
There is a startling lack of faith in public schools within Pakistan. Parents doubt the ability of the public sector to deliver quality education to their children. Parents opt to pay for what is a fundamental and constitutional right of every child because they don’t trust the system. This is primarily because the government does not, despite repeated promises to do so, increase its investment in building new schools, particularly in urban areas.
This has led to overcrowding in public schools, overworked and underpaid teachers, and an adverse impact on the quality of education provided in these schools. Pakistan spends 2.4% of the GDP on education. 89% of these expenditures go towards current expenses like the salaries of teachers, while the rest is allocated to development. This is inadequate to improve the quality of education.
Quality of education
Private and public schools have a wide disparity in terms of the curriculum, training, and skills provided to their students. The ultimate concern of the average citizen is social mobility, maintaining face, upholding a certain standard of living, and engaging in social practices that grant them social and cultural capital.
Public schools fail to meet the basic demands and expectations of the job market due to poor quality education and lack of training in other departments such as public speaking and communication. Often described as ‘poorly supervised and chronically neglected’, public schools are often not on the list for those who can afford to send their children to a private school at a minimum of 20,000 PKR per term.
Colonial legacies and the war of boards
As seen above, private schools have the edge over public schools due to their quality of education. Within private institutions, this quality of education is housed in O and A Level programs championed by our ex-colonialist masters – the British. The British Council conducts the Ordinary and Advanced General Certificates of Education in Pakistan. They have emerged as a contender to the matriculation qualification, which is offered by the government.
There is a sharp contrast between the style of instruction, mode of learning, and content between the two boards of education. O and A Level programs offer a variety of subjects, ranging from basic science and social sciences to specialized subjects such as Media Studies and Food Studies. On the other hand, matriculation is divided along with the subjects of arts and science subjects.
Besides, matriculation is associated with rote learning, which is frowned upon, while O and A Levels prides itself on encouraging critical thinking, and inculcating powers of analysis and education.
The presence of O and A Levels has long been seen as an indicator of Pakistanis catering to their ex-colonialist masters and operating within their established standard. The war of boards and the public and private divide has led to wide disparities in the quality of education within Pakistan as private schools are accessible only to the privileged. Nevertheless, owing to the abysmal conditions of public schooling, private schools in Pakistan are here to stay.
