In a country like Pakistan which invests 2.5% of its GDP1 on education and has 56%
literacy rate2 education has been hijacked by shadow system. This booming
industry has
produced remarkable influence on the education market and
pointed out a huge gap between the existing and desired quality of education in
public and private schools. One could ask questions; is the whole set-up of
shadow education demand driven or supply driven? Is the parallel system a
support or challenge to formal schooling? Is learning enhancement through
private tuitions a reality or fantasy? Considering the drastic growth in this
domain, educationists and policy makers have started thinking
about the social, economic, physical and intellectual impact of shadow system.
Dang & Rogers3 (2010) called shadow
education as “third important education sector” globally, though a great
diversity is observed in the nature, purpose and scale of informal tutoring in
different parts of the world. Unlike developed countries, in Pakistan tuition
is considered as the supplement to formal education rather than substitute to
low quality formal schooling. ASAR report4 (2011) shares that 20% students in lower primary, 25% in upper
primary and 35% in secondary seek paid tuitions with fees ranging from PKR 300
to PKR 3000/month. Doesn’t it sound weird for a country where 60.19% people
live under the poverty line, which means earning less than $2/day i.e.
6000/month5?
Though less empirical studies are available on root causes,
stakeholders’ perceptions give critical view on it. A parent said, “Coaching
Centre is must; almost everyone goes there. These centres guarantee for good
marks and prepare students by providing notes and marks gaining techniques.
After all we want our children to end up in good universities”. This comment
indicates several itching points of our
“I became confused whom to follow, school teacher or tuition
teacher so I decided to focus on tuitions despite wasting time in school”.
These dual instructions, methodologies, standards and parameters make children
confused and hence they give priority to shadow education for achieving their academic
goals.
What else could be the success indicator of any country’s
education system? On the other side, teachers consider it an easy way of income
generation. Mr. Imran6, a college teacher, shared his routine that after 6 hours every
day in school; he goes to coaching centre and takes 5 classes of an hour each
with 10 minutes break in between, teaching the same concept to different groups
of students. How can one think that this tiring and mechanical job will leave
any room for creativity and innovation on teachers’ part?
Though the above discussion implies that shadow system leads to
social disparity, economic instability, mental and physical stress on students
and parents, it could serve as the opportunity for university students, trainee
teachers and retired individuals. It’s neither desirous nor possible to ban
shadow system completely, a fine line should be drawn between acceptable and
unacceptable norms to avoid negative consequences. For example, teachers
shouldn’t be allowed to give tuitions to the children whom they teach in
school. This would ensure that teachers don’t compromise on quality in their
classrooms. Also, restriction on teachers’ dual affiliation, issuance of permit
to university students, development of parent school partnership for quality
assurance, shift in examination’s process and focus are some of the areas where
policy at school as well as government level needs to be formulated,
implemented and monitored.
It’s a dire need of today to reflect and realign our formal
system of education else we would lose the direction and real essence.
References:
1 Associated Press of Pakistan, retrieved
from
http://app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85740&Itemid=2
2 http://www.dawn.com/news/1012884/literacy-and-pakistan
3
Dang, H. and
Rogers, F.H. (2008), ‘The Growing Phenomenon of Private Tutoring: Does It
Deepen Human Capital, Widen Inequalities or Waste Resources?’,
The World Bank Research Observer, Advanced Access Published 18 April
2008
4 Aslam, Monazza, and Suwaibah Mansoor. The
Private Tuition Industry in Pakistan. Issue brief. N.p.: n.p., 2011. Print.
5 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/business/03-Jun-2014/earning-2-a-day-60-19-population-live-below-poverty-line
6 Pseudonym
Mrs. Shairose, hats off to you for highlighting one of those dilemmas of our education system that have been ignored for long. It is quite unfortunate that we have allowed a parallel education system (the shadow or coaching system) to not only survive but also thrive even though the primary system (schools / colleges) need to be further strengthened such that there is no need for visiting these coaching systems.
ReplyDeleteAs highlighted by you, a good way to curb this practice would be to forbade existing teachers from offering tuition to the students of the schools where they are employed. Another significant step would be to set up weekly tutorials for each of the subjects so that those students who need extra attention be tutored by their school teacher within the school premises without any additional financial burden for their parents.
Mrs. Shairose, a good piece of research from you and it comes as no surprise given that you have always been a hard working individual with exceptional grip over teaching methodologies.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThank you very much for your input. I've seen many teachers who don't teach in the classroom effectively so that they can get tuitions and extra payment. This is simply injustice and cruelty. This would give a negative image to our profession. I like your suggestion as it is both need based as well as practical though it has some administrative issue. it benefits students in general and particularly to those who can't afford tuitions. We do the same in our school where struggling students are give extra support through formal and informal ways. For us the biggest challenges are time and space. Well facing challenges are also part of life and learning process :). Thanks for your comments.
DeleteSpending little is certainly a big issue, yet bad governance is even worse to our education system. Moreover, this country and the society are confused about:
ReplyDelete* the ideal education system
*modernity or becoming completely religious?
we are probably one of the most confused nations on the globe!
Raheel ... you've correctly pointed out the issues in Pakistan. The root cause is corruption which leads to bad policies, bad governance and pad implementation of educational innovations. I feel ideal education system doesn't exist in reality though its components can be witnessed in few countries educational models. Our dilemma is that we borrow things immediately without moulding these to local needs and context. Thanks for your contribution, Raheel.
Deletemrs jassani i completly agree with you.
DeleteHi Shairoz,
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed an intriguing article to read. Shadow system is a dilemma of our poor education system; in fact it is the product of the pro poor system of education. If it has been regulated earlier by the government it might not have taken the roots as it has taken today. I completely agree with your point of view that we cannot completely get rid of this system due to over reliance of the parents and legitimacy it gained over the years as educational institute in the society. However, at this point of time, regularizing these institutions as educational bodies and finding ways where their efforts could direct to supplement our education system should be a priority of our policy makers.
Thanks for Sharing.
very true. Being a STEP teacher you must have noticed that when there is no option of tuition students are more focused to one direction and can maximize their potential in formal school setting. I am not sure whether common grounds can be made bw schools and tuition centres as both stakeholders have different priorities and strategies. But bringing them together to generate policy dialogue is really important
ReplyDeleteMs. Shairose , i appreciate your efforts on highlighting your view points on this issue.
ReplyDeleteAs you are right that we can't get rid of this system as our leaders are least bother in improving the educational systems but ways can be find out in order to help students and parents to manage balance between tuition and schooling/college , As now a days both are important.
yes ... but balancing is not an easy task because it makes students confused due to different focuses, priorities and needs. and some how or the other students get inclined towards tuition which gives them easy way to gain marks.
ReplyDeleteL:Mrs jassani I want congratulate you for highlight it v crucial issue and thanks to given me chance to share my views and comments.Pakistan ranks at 113th position among 120 countries of the world.
ReplyDeleteOUR literacy rate is said to be 56 per cent. In fact, this figure is not reliable and also includes those who can only write their names.The GDP for education is only 2.1 per cent. Even this is not used honestly.If we look in our neighbor country india, srilanks and bangledesh their literacy rate is about 80% in female and 77.1% in youth males.The only difference is that they gave policies and implemented them while our governments only laid emphasis on giving policy documents rather than implement them. The only gap between the policies and literacy is the lack of implementation.Also, the GDP must be raised to at least five per cent because underdeveloped countries spend even more.
Lastly, the education minister must be a person from the education sector who has the deepest knowledge of the field and enough experience in solving educational problems, not a politician.mrs jassani, in short the selection of every candidate for any post in the education sector must be on the marit base.
you're absolutely right in saying that we are very much leg behind as compare to our neighbouring countries. However, this is not only an implementation problem. Even policy formation process is questionable. one could ask; how actively different stakeholders are involved in the policy making process, do all required information / statistics available during the process, aren't we compromise and negotiate on policies to satisfy individual's need based on political agendas, Aren't we borrow policies just to make our donors happy, how practical and realistic these policies in our context. Well ... in a country where education is sold (in the form of grades / degrees) how would we guarantee that education minister having a degree has a vision for education or not.
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons that parents prefer the tuition and coaching centers is that they want their children to give a specified time for study except the school timings, and sometimes they are not always around to make sure of that so they choose the tuitions. Another reason is that a lot of parents are not literate enough to help their children with their homework and studies and the student doesnt always feel the liberty to ask the teacher due to several reasons hence the parents are forced to arrange for tuitions/coaching.
ReplyDeleteThese two reasons can easily be eliminated by careful strategizing of teachers and parents. Teachers should give students extra time to clarify their confusions (whether its home work or regular class lectures), parents can counsel their children regarding the need of daily studying, and importance of education.
A lot of students claim that they dont have to pay much attention to school or attend daily classes because they are already going to coaching centers, this does indeed waste a lot of their time and burdens them as well. This begs the question - if they only need to follow one education system to get good grades then why bother to go for both? They could spend this extra time in more creative activities or learning other skills. But ofcourse there is no substitute for a formal school education hence the school should be the prioritized over shadow systems.
Yes, the shadow system has generated a great way of income for teachers and tutors of all ages and they are quite successful but this is because a lot of schools these days are focused on making a business then to promote better education, similarly several teachers aren't concerned about whether all the childrens have understood the concepts, they only care about delivering the lecture. Business and quality should not be traded as one for another however both should be balanced.
Nasir . you've pointed out many important aspects. Parents whether literate or illiterate pass their responsibilities to tuitions centres for monitoring and facilitating their children. This could be for many reasons, lack of expertise, lack of time, lack of priorities etc. Further quantity and quality of homework given by schools make the situation even worst. I've observed that the tasks given as homework are so difficult that sending children to tuitions become necessary. I am happy that being a student you raised such a pertinent question on quality Vs business/earning approach. Thanks for your contribution.
DeleteShairose I shall like to congratulate you on highlighting the burning concern of these days i.e.Coaching Centres which are popping up like mushrooms all over the country. Wish that the teachers understand the role of teachers and take their task of teaching seriously there would be no need for any shadow education system to find any space. Infact the students shall be able to devote good and quality time in self study which is being ignored completely as these young brains are banking on the short cuts and notes provided by these Coaching Centres.
ReplyDeleteThese great teachers are tarnishing the image of teachers by not performing their responsibilities of teaching in the school seriously. it could only be possible if the management perform their responsiblities conscientiously and convince teachers to perform their role religiously.
thanks Madam, for your encouragement and thought provoking comments. I believe that without owning teaching profession one can't give best in the class. for this, teachers need motivation; if it is intrinsic motivation that would last forever, however, extrinsic motivation through capacity building, learning culture, peer monitoring can help in strategizing and ensuring the quality teaching in the classroom
DeleteThough Pakistan’s literacy rate has increased remarkably from 16.4% in 1951 to 57% in 2009, but is our society aware of the true essence of quality education? It has become cruel norm of our society where most of the students and their parents falsely perceive that the road towards achievements passes through tuition centres. And unfortunately our society has diverted their mindset from learning attitude to marks grabbing attitude. These flaws ultimately force students to go for supplementary tutoring. It seems to me like students get themselves registered with schools only to get degree/certificate and for learning purpose they mistakenly rely only on additional tuitions.
ReplyDeleteBeing a business person, in current economic condition the best profitable business I would say is to open a tuition center. These institutions have used every business model, from efficient marketing to giving special financial packages, to attract students. If any institution has mission statement of giving quality education, I would say their hidden purpose must be to fill up their pockets. In the end of the day, students are in loss!
I can still recall my college time when many students were only practicing golden questions prepared by their private tutors for board examinations. Why the concept of such ‘five years papers’ and ‘golden questions’ are still alive today, just because our policy makers are following trends which has sat decade ago. How can one rely on policy makers who are not even in mood to change old trends? Well am not against supplementary tutoring, rather I would suggest that this education system would be for those who for any reason cannot attend school or college.
Ms. Shairose, I really appreciate your efforts for highlighting such an important topic. I agree with you that shadow education system has been producing drastic impacts and hence, requires key attention from academic leaders. Imagine the pressure at a part of the student whose colleague takes an expensive tuition from the teacher providing a guarantee for A-1 grade in examination. Perhaps, the peer pressure is a prominent factor that has been shimmering up the tuition business and creating an economic burden on parents consequently. Thus, the academic leaders need to reflect if we want to enhance students' capabilities through constructive teaching, learning and assessment process or we just want them to run after and achieve a ‘required target’ anyway.
ReplyDeleteAs you mentioned; this is the game of demand and supply, somehow this demand is created in our society due to poor schooling, examinations, teaching qualities and hence few people (now a large group) cashed the opportunity. Very rightly mentioned by you that at the end our student is in loss but for me nation is in loss. These students want affiliation from schools and marks from tuition and no learning is required. They know that once they will start their career these affiliations and grades will serve as gate to their success. Unfortunately they sit on higher levels professionally but cant give their practical input and this is what has been reflected in our nation's growth since 1957. I think our ministry and Higher education commission and think tanks should review our system in comparison to some good models (like Fin land) and bring changes.
ReplyDeleteAnna my previous response was on hanif's post. You talked about targets ... and that's the real dilemma of Pakistan's education system. We've made marks, grades, entrance in so called reputed institution our target. It reminds me the ancient time when scholars sit with their students and talk about philosophy, medicine, astrology etc. That was the real learning both meaningful and inspiring life. this I believe is a mirage .. .nothing will come at the end. :(
DeleteBy Sir Uwais (AKHSS)
ReplyDeleteMs it is a great effort by u. And I appreciate.
In my opinion the problem created after nationalization in 1970s, when a wrong policy of Pakistan government for nationalizing all educational organization resulted in failure of education system. People lost confidence from the schools and colleges and consequently this shadow system emerged with full energy and determination. The nationalization resulted in low performance, lack of competition and favoritism in educational sector and quality of education dropped. The parents had to find out a better alternative and the shadow system became solution.
This shadow system is destroying formal education system particularly in our country.
Until and unless we don’t have an emergency plan of education for our country to improve the public sector educational institutes; particularly secondary and higher secondary school, the shadow system cannot be discouraged.
True ... whenever quality gets compromised alternatives become powerful. but its not a matter of public and private. neither its only with national examination Boards. I mean taking tuition in O'level is also very common. What important is teachers' effectiveness in classroom. For this collective effort could be done for monitoring and capacity building.
DeleteYou have highlighted a big issue.
ReplyDeleteParental pressure and peer pressure are tow major factors responsible for this. Commercial forces are dominating the educational system.
What is the solution? Can we become change agent?
I believe charity begins at home. What Hellen Keller said if I am one, and I can't do everything, doesn't mean that I will not do any thing. We can give our best as a teacher and inspire other teachers to be role model through their classroom teaching. If that is improved it will automatically influence on the tuition culture.
DeleteTeachers are responsible for this? Some of them do not teach in schools and colleges and ask students to attend their coaching centre where they teach really well.
ReplyDeleteThere should be a law for teachers according to which they should not give tuitions.
you're right to some extent ... but we know what does law mean in Pakistan. Better solution would be if we streamline this whole phenomena and use this shadow education constructively. what I mean if we give permit / licence for giving tuition to those who are university graduates or retired teachers.
DeleteMadam, you have placed a major foundation in education relating to the causes of hijacking tremendously. By large, we all are responsible for this significant decline in the hijacking the education system. Pakistan stands at a cross roads. Will it succeed in getting rid of the feudal and dynastic system of governance, and usher in an era in which the brightest and the best will rule the country to pull us out of the abyss of poverty and ignorance? Or will we continue on the path of self-destruction that has resulted in us losing half of our country, and the nation being buried a mountain of debt. We all will have to work out together by burning the midnight’s oil on emergency basis. Otherwise, we have no dignified survival.
ReplyDeleteIn Pakistan coaching centers are spreading like a virus and students are infected and one of the main reason is hiring of untrained teachers in the schools just to save the salary cost. Tuition fee are the recurrent expenses and extra burden on parents' budget. Extra classes for slow learners could arranged to sabotage this tuition culture and save precious time of a child for healthy activities.
ReplyDeleteAgreed ... unskilled teachers in schools is one of the reasons. but question is not only of their skills rather passion as well. How many of us in teacher community are teacher by choice. if one has passion they learn by themselves and priorities will be different.
DeleteThe movie "Aarakshan" best reflects your issue. every one MUST watch it to know the scene behind this mafiya....
ReplyDeleteI haven't watched this movie so far. but can you please point out issues behind this whole setup as shown in the movie.
Delete