A Comparative Analysis of Pakistani and Foreign Education Systems by Raveeha Naseem
Introduction
One of the most important sectors in any society is education. It molds young minds in readiness for future happenings. However, the value placed on knowledge as opposed to grades differs widely among educational systems worldwide. This blog examines the comparison of the education system in Pakistan with those in other countries on aspects relating to acquiring knowledge and getting grades.
An Overview of the Pakistani Education System
In Pakistan, education system is predominantly examination based. Most students are primarily focused at attaining high scores regardless of whether they understand what they study or not. Several factors contribute to this trend including societal expectations, employment opportunities and structure of the education system itself.
1. Emphasis on Grades
In Pakistan, students face very multiple exams at various stages, starting from the 10th and 12th grade board examinations to university entry tests. These exams are heavily weighted, serving not only for a student’s academic progress, but also for their future job opportunities and career. The exam system tends to favor memorizing over the comprehension of subjects. Students often memorize textbook contents and past papers in order to score high, which can hinder the development of critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. There is immense pressure from parents and society on students to get top grades; this often creates a competitive environment where grades determine everything about a student’s capabilities and potential. This pressure causes a lot of stress and anxiety to the students. Moreover, this has a diminishing effect on extracurricular activities and the holistic development of personality. The teachers themselves are also be pressurized to teach for test-taking purpose, rather than practically cultivating creative and independent thinking. Ultimately, this emphasis on grades creates an atmosphere in education where scores become more important than the real process of learning and personality growth.
2. Knowledge Acquisition
It is necessary to point out that although Pakistan curriculum comprises a wide range of topics, the teaching methodologies are not always helpful for stimulating active learning and curiosity. The pedagogical approach in most cases is based on lecture-style delivery, obstructing participatory student-centered learning opportunities. No availability of extra-curricular activities deprives children of holistic growth. Schools prioritize academic achievements over extra-curricular involvement, which further reinforces the grades-centric culture. This leads to a lack of involvement in various activities, which deprives the students from the exposure to some key areas such as teamwork, leadership, and creativity. Moreover, this rigid schooling system makes students’ minds less curious and less passionate about learning. Since there is no exploration of different interests and possible talents that a student may have, they fail to realize their actual potential and passion.