An Alif Ailaan ‘report card’ highlights the subpar performance of MNAs in bringing demonstrable change to their constituencies during the two-and-a-half years that have elapsed since the 2013 elections. The ‘report card’ awards grades to MNAs on the basis of their performance across four indicators developed and researched by Alif Ailaan, an organisation run by a team of media and strategic communications specialists. State of school facilities: highest grades awarded for most progress in provision of boundary walls, electricity, drinking water, sanitation facilities.Retention rate between classes II and IV: highest grades given for most improvement in retention rate over past two years with the highest grades awarded to those constituencies with the highest improvement in the retention rate since 2013. State of gender parity: highest grades reserved for constituencies depicting the greatest movement towards gender parity Student-teacher ratio: highest grades for greatest improvement in the ratio since 2013
The grade given to each MNA represents the change each has brought in their respective constituencies, not the overall state of education in their constituencies. Of the 272 MNAs, only three got an overall ‘A’ grade. That the constituencies of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and State Minister for Education Balighur Rehman scored ‘C’ speaks volumes for the apathy that reigns, as does the same grade for PTI chief Imran Khan — an irony given he is widely considered the most vocal proponent of bringing about change. The problem, though, is more deep-rooted. Regardless of the sector, improvements can only come about when the stakeholders for change are people in a position to lobby with government. Who are the stakeholders in public schooling? Overwhelmingly, the voiceless masses — for where in Pakistan could one find a child of parents who are even moderately well-off or influential studying in a public school? In these circles, of concern are private schools which their offspring attend. And when there is a problem here, loud protestations are immediately in evidence: consider only the recent furore over the high fees being charged in the private sector and the efforts to rein it in. Here lies the crux of the matter. Until the representatives of the people have the same choice of educational facilities as is available to those who voted for them, little will change.
pk.shafaqna.com
