Meeting of Shura Hamdard held: government urged to get teachers' input in education policymaking

Speakers at the meeting of Shura Hamdard Karachi chapter urged the government to make arrangements for imparting education in mother tongue and national language to the children and take on board the teachers while drafting new education policy. The meeting was held on December 11, on the theme: "Outdated and class-based education system is an impediment in progress of the nation", presided over by former Justice Haqizul Khairi at Hamdard Centre, Nazimabad, Karachi.
Speaking on the occasion, guest speaker senior journalist Zubeida Mustafa has said that children could learn easily in national and other language of the country as they would often listen such languages at homes, streets and on TV channels as well but not English, so they would find much difficulty in understanding the English.
"The class-based system of education is creating further divide in our society. Education improves mind, makes values and no society can make progress without education. But it is two-edge sword and if doesn't use adequately it can harm the society," she added. She further said, "What we teach to our children they would become the same, it is therefore essential to change the education syllabi by deleting the controversial things for the sake of national unity."
Former Justice Haziqul Khair said that the Pakistan Movement and Two Nation Theory were the powerful voice of Muslims of subcontinent against the social, economic and political injustices, done by the majority. "We listen too much about English, but there are few people in our society who can understand English, that's why the only two English TV channels could not service in our country and were closed," he maintained.
Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan said that if the elite class of Pakistan would make a point to spend only one percent of its income on education there would be no illiteracy in the country within short time. Setting up schools and colleges in their respective areas should be made mandatory for the feudal lords, he added. Professor Muhammad Rafi was of the opinion that education system would not change in the country unless a change in mindset of ruling class was not occurred. Input of teachers in education policy was quite necessary as they taught and had practical experience of teaching and dealing with students. Commander Sadeed Anwar Malik (Retd), Dr Abubakar Sheikh, Dr Rizwana Ansari, Sadia Rashid, President, Hamdard Foundation, Safia Malik also spoke and Dr Mirza Arshad Ali Beg and Anwar Aziz Jakartawalla attended the meeting.-PR