Fight for the rights and struggle for the generations to come!

Fight for the rights and struggle for the generations to come

It was heartwarming to see the positive outcome of the parents struggle against the unjust increase in the fees of their kids studying in the private schools.

Silence has always been taken as for-granted in the human history and in case of no retaliation the wrong doers got the encouragement to do more evil in any form that suits them. Somehow in the light of geo-political scenario and socio-economic factors, we are getting ample courage as a nation to speak up piece of our mind and stand up tall against injustice in any form. The recent hype in the private school fee structures gave clear indications that a great portion of well deserved kids would be deprived of so called quality education.

We very well understand that Education provision is a business now and we respect this fact but every business has to be run through some basic business ethics and most important amongst those is taking care of the customers/consumers by facilitating them through getting realistic and just return on investments and offering relief and support to customers as and when possible. The private schools on the contrary have shown that these have single track strategy to loot the money of the parents who are pursuing desperately a better future for their next generation.

The in-trend private school groups are hardly few may be less than ten but have an un-written and hidden business alliance to monopolize the whole market. The decline of quality of education in government schools have further infuriated and worsen the situation and parents are bound to send their children to these private schools as it is being perceived that these schools qualified students would be given preference when it comes to their professional careers in the long run. It is because of an unfortunate fact that educational back ground is considered with preference of an institute and not the actual talent of the individual.

We should learn to fight for our rights and current spark shown by the parents of the school kids have clearly indicated that there would be a strong notion of rejection and un-acceptance by our Nation in general and especially by the educated community. It has sent strong vibes to the ruling government to do something serious about the two different standards of education in Pakistan, education has to be made affordable for all citizens of Pakistan and should not be the right of the elite class to have quality education. It can only be done by improving school's infra-structure, revising the pay scales of teachers and re-setting the curriculum to reflect our religious and social values combined with an eye on the modern education in the books we teach our next generations which would eventually be responsible for the betterment of our Country and long term progress on the way to become and strong economic power.

Let us decide today that we would bow down to the pressure tactics of anyone who is victimizing us by forcing us to accept their dictated terms on any matter. Hats off to the standoff by the parents in a fight to retaliate the un-just fee increase at private schools!

The Alarmingly Expensive Private School's Education in Pakistan!

The Alarmingly Expensive Private School's Education in Pakistan!

 Over the last 5-6 years Private school systems have crossed all the limits by increasing the school fee and making books provided by them more expensive to such an extent that a middle income level parent cannot even dream of sending their kids to the likes of Aitcheson, Lahore Grammar, Roots, The City School, Beacon House etc.

And the irony is that the focus is no longer on kids character building, it is all about business and making money and trying to produce best results. A lot of parents are forced to use unfair means and corruption doors to earn extra enough to have their kids admitted in the better schools.

All major elite schools are being run by political families so eyes of the government and legislation will be closed and these school have got a free hand to amend fee structure as and when required as it goes without check and parents do not have much of the choice. The mighty wealthy elites rule Pakistan, parents do not talk much about it as they fear their kids will be asked to leave the schools if they try to raise questions on the ever increasing school expenses.

The way these school systems are given preference when it comes to selection at Higher education institutes and later on in the government and private sector jobs, parents who cannot afford to pay such high fees, are forced to send their kids to these schools for their children's better future. Armed forces institutes provide education to serving officers and other ranks children at a subsidized fee but civilians have to pay more if by any chance their children get admission.

A lot has been said, written, promised in election campaigns but nothing concrete has been done to provide affordable quality education for masses in Pakistan. We have declared war against terrorism, lets declare an education emergency and we all contribute in an education fund to build and maintain schools all across Pakistan especially in rural areas of all provinces and FATA to emerge as a Nation in ten years which is making Pakistan's socio-economic environment much better than that of what is prevailing today. Lets Join Hands and do not rely only on our government, we should come forward and support the education cause and for that matter support any organization or independent body which comes forward to support this noble cause.

Basic human rights include health, education, clean water, residence, equal opportunities to grow and to exercise own religious rights for everyone. Let's try to re-stage a certain level of governance which was there in the days of Prophet Muhammad may peace be upon him and in the era of The Worthy Caliphs (may peace be upon Them) so that the deserving people are given the much needed support and parents of our time live a stress free life which they ruin for themselves in order to provide better future for their next generation. Let education be affordable and of same standard for everyone in Pakistan so that we can allow our children to compete on merit in their professional and personal lives.

 

"Destiny is reached by our will to sacrifice."

"Destiny is reached by our will to sacrifice."

 

by Muhammad Usman Arshad

 

If we review the print and electronic media in depth, there is a clear trend of shifting our own responsibilities on others. We want to eradicate corruption, we hold government responsible for it but we still tend to give bribes to get our legal or illegal work done swiftly. We would sit silent on an effort to remove poverty, improve health and education facilities, provision of speedy and free justice for all and to provide equal opportunities of men and women from all income levels to excel in their professional and personal lives. We would rather think that government is there, Edhi Sb is there, Ansar Barni Sb is there, Imran Khan is there and few other individuals and organizations are there to take of the well being of the struggling class of our society.

We can always come up with our share through a monetary contribution and by working for a particular cause and encouraging others to contribute as well to improve the living conditions of people around us and let them have same health and education facilities that the people who could afford are providing to their children.

The irony is we are not contributing enough or not contributing at all, we have a narrow approach to focus on life and are targeting our own lives in terms of growth and success. We would not pay income taxes and would not spend a penny on Zakat to help out others.

The signs of a bloody revolution are already evident in our country as the difference of income level of haves and have nots has increased so much that people would consider it their right to snatch and loot the money. This can be stopped firstly by correcting our own deeds, then choosing the right people to rule us, thirdly we contribute as much as we could from our limited resources for the betterment of the people in need, we pay taxes in full and on time and we should not sit silent if we are not effected at all, we must raise the voice as we all know our rights and those who do not their rights, should be given enough education so that no one could exploit their innocence and ignorance.

If a city like Karachi can spend Seven Arab rupees for Eid shopping last week, we could do wonders for others if we could gather 20% of it in same proportions from other cities across Pakistan and then spend it rightly on the right projects. We need Kala Bagh Dam for our survival, let's start a National Level loud and visible struggle to make it happen, we need to revive and amend current educational policies, let's be part f it. Let's make hospitals like Shaukat Khanum by relying on our own resources, lets create awareness of Wind and thermal energy and force our governments to take up these projects on war footing basis. Let's make our armed forces more strong by becoming self sufficient in producing most advanced Arsenal for air, sea and land combat by utilizing our own talent and through transfer of technology as well. Lets force the decision makers to replace non-genuine people sitting at key positions in government, judiciary, civil service, armed forces and local bodies. We have to elect right people next time and not let anyone "select" our leaders by rigging and un-fair means in the electoral process.

 

We can do wonders if we follow the rule, we remain honest, we respect merit, we respect privacy of people around us, we do not mis-use the media power, we educate the people, we take care of the deprived, we become part in provision of health and social welfare. Self correction is the key to be part of a revolution, wrong people if gathered for a right cause cannot get success and would rather bring harm to the core values of the cause.

We have to tune the legislation to our Islamic teachings and Ideology, we must learn to survive without the help of so called Gods in the West, writ of the people of Pakistan should be established. Baluchistan and KPK should not be ignored any longer, common man's life status should be up-graded through education, job opportunities, new industry, better infra-structure and equal distribution of resources. Pakistan is not  just Karachi, Hyderabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Quetta, Islamabad and Peshawar, all other cities should be developed and managed in the same spirit.

It is about time for all of us to set our goals and priorities, a strong Pakistan's picture can be presented to rest of the world if we learn to survive on our own resources and correct our acts before criticizing others for various odd reasons. We are one Nation as Muslims without any discrimination of sects and clans as our enemies have always tried to divide us and then destroying us as they wish.

Let's be part of an effort to bring our motherland to such a height that our neighboring friends and enemies would envy us for our revival as a strong nation.