The members of ShuraHamdard voiced their concerns about the continuous decline and rampant corruption in the education sector in a ShuraHamdard meeting recently, titled: “Respect for Teachers”. The meeting was chaired by Speaker Gen(r) MoinuddinHaider and was held at Hamdard Corporate Head Office. Ms. Sadia Rashid, President – Hamdard Foundation Pakistan, also attended the meeting. The speakers also put forth several suggestions and recommendations to improve the education sector of the country.
General (r) MoinuddinHaider said that the education sector has been marred by corruption, leading to the appointment of individuals as teachers who lack both qualifications and competence. Presently, provincial governments extend numerous benefits to teachers, including reasonable salaries. Nevertheless, the fundamental issue revolves around the selection and appointment of teachers.
Dr. KhalidaGhaus emphasized the need to depoliticize the education department, take action, and discourage the ghost teacher phenomenon. “To hold ghost teachers accountable, who just draw salaries, it is essential to keep teachers consistently involved in various training programs. Definite measures should be implemented using technology and mobile applications to monitor teacher attendance and course completion throughout the year. Additionally, clear guidelines for defining the qualities of an effective teacher should be established,” she said. Professor Ikhlaq Ahmed said that genuine respect for teachers could only be achieved when teachers actively engage in educating and nurturing children. Teaching is not merely a means of livelihood but a noble mission dedicated to serving society. Naushaba Khalil Sattar said that the commercialization of education has diminished the honor and esteem accorded to educators. Both tuition centers and schools operate on a business-oriented framework, where students are treated as customers.
Consequently, the focus of these educational institutes is to prioritize contentment over the character-building of students. Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan said the vital role that primary educators assume in shaping the character and personality of children. However, there hasn’t been any implementation of a merit-based system for primary teachers as of yet. Dr. Rizwana Ansari said instances of sexual harassment, violence, and physical punishment have a profound and detrimental impact on the mental and emotional well-being of young victims.
There is an immediate requirement for the implementation of a rehabilitation policy aimed at addressing the psychological issues faced by thesechildren.ZafarIqbal, Engr. Pervez Sadiq, Brig (r) Riaz-ul-Haq, Dr. AmjadJafri, Justice (r) Zia Pervez, Cdre (r) Sadeed Anwar Malik and Col (r) Mukhtar Ahmed Butt also spoke on the occasion.
