Chowrangi

In these difficult times, there are few avenues one can look to with hope for a better future. There is a significant lack of positivity which is almost impossible to criticize given that the state of our country appears to following a rigid downward drop. That said, one of the directions in which we can look for long term progression is education. An education that is based on the fundamentals of liberalism and progression - an education that makes students today potential leaders of tomorrow and not potential threats of tomorrow.

Financial and human investment in education on primary, secondary and tertiary levels must be promoted in the public and private sectors of Pakistan. Without investment in this kind of education, one can then only rely on the indoctrination of religious educators as a primary source of learning.

Some time back we had written about a project that reflects the ability to pool in human capital with financial backing in the form of the school, Stellar. For those who had not read our previous post this school is a veritable manifestation of the fact that Pakistan’s top educationalists can be brought on the same platform with Pakistan’s top entrepreneurs and businessmen to make a difference. Yes it a private school and yes it is therefore niche, but at least schools and ventures like this, are looking beyond the usual indoctrination and rote system that exists even within some of the most historically popular schools across the country. Their open house events which marked the end of the summer as we knew it in Lahore, brought in personalities and faces that one wants to see get more involved in finding a solution to the chaos in this country - personalities such as Pakistan’s leading economist Dr. Akmal Hussain, Dr Salman Shah, actor Omair Rana, designer Khadija Shah, poet Najam Hussain came on one platform in events that were said to tackle and bring the ‘revival of education’ in the country. Indeed a revival can only be led by the most senior and accomplished of academics and can only be implemented by the vision and backing of industrialists and a genuine state interested in promoting education - and if they it means one is able to earn a living out of educating people, we don’t think this should be a moral dilemma.

Academic solutions need to take into consideration global technological advances and global politics. Mandarin and Arabic are taught at the Stellar School branches - why? To quote director Jehanzeb Amin, “Mandarin is the future. China is a rising economy, and it will rule all the markets in the near future. By offering Mandarin as a course, we are actually equipping our students with quintessential weapons.” Thus education needs to be more practical for students if they we are to tackle the terrorist, economic and social problems that exist in our country.

Here’s to education’s overdue triumph.

Other posts by Lotus Client Management & Public Relations

• Stellar School System launch innovative schooling in Lahore - April 18th, 2008
• Pehno Etihad: Levi Strauss & Co's post elections message to Pakistani Youth - March 3rd, 2008
• Part II - A Tribute to Education: Abbas Zaidi - February 7th, 2008
• Education in Pakistan - A Tribute to Shama Nawaz - January 30th, 2008
• Rendez-vous d’Interieur - Charity Furniture Fun - November 29th, 2007
• Lotus on Chowrangi - October 25th, 2007