We are far behind the developed countries due to our failed education policies : Dr. Shahid Siddiqui

Lahore: A book of Prof. Dr. Shahid Siddiqui Vice Chancellor Allama Iqbal Open University titled ‘Education Policies in Pakistan’, was launched at the Oxford University Press.

Dr. Shahid Siddiqui along with renowned columnists Tariq Rahman and Shahid Khan and other addressed the ceremony.

Shahid Siddiqui said that there is dire need to revamp the entire education sector, as it is the only sector that could bring about a real and meaningful change in the lives of the poor. He said that governments invest more on road development and infrastructure, as it’s impact is more immediate than investment in education. Siddique said, “I don’t see language as an issue either. Urdu should be imposed but we should also need to understand the importance of English too. There are number of reasons why education policies had failed, as there may be some unrealistic data provided before policymaking. Inconsistencies and power struggle between the political parties have also contributed in the failure of education sector, as governments in Pakistan tend to change or dismiss the policies of previous governments,” he added.

While addressing the ceremony, Tariq Rahman said that nobody had previously discussed education policies, funding and implementation in Pakistan as thoroughly as Shahid Siddiqui has done in this book. He said that outdated and ineffective education policies have been the major reasons behind several issues, including the ever-increasing ‘Islamisation’. “European countries evolved the concept of welfare state after 1940, but we are still far behind the developed countries due to our failed education policies,” he lamented.