What Pakistan’s HEC can learn from India

Published March 23, 2012 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Published: http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/10729/what-our-hec-can-learn-from-india/

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The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has made significant contributions since its inception in 2002, however the strategies used by the commission have room for improvement. Statistics clearly show that the quantitative results of the HEC are plausible, with drastically increased university enrollment and a huge army of PhDs in the making on scholarships.

The quality of students on the other hand, does not seem too impressive. It is hard to challenge the fact that knowledge is not being produced in the country, and this raises a question:

What exactly do we want to achieve with this enormous number of graduate students if not the production of knowledge?

The direction taken by Pakistani universities is unproductive and dangerous, with the focus usually being on creating top of the line campuses and growing the student body. Should the priority be to increase the number of graduates or the quality of graduates? The answer simple; strike a balance and make the best use of the available resources. No one can deny the lack of resources and facilities in Pakistan, but is there anything that the HEC can do better with the available funds?

The United States has the highest number of top ranked research institutions in the world -this is a fact and an opportunity. In 2010, the number of Pakistani students in the US stood at 5,222, but the Institute of International Education reports that the number is decreasing.

India, on the other hand, had 103,260 students in the US during the same period with a constant rise in the numbers. The gap is many folds and constantly increasing because of the wrong, or missing, priorities of the Pakistan government and a well -thought higher education policy in India.

The purpose of the figures is not to draw a comparison between India and Pakistan in terms of higher education, but I want to bring the attention of the Pakistani authorities to a strategy that is doing wonders for India and can easily be adopted here within the means available.

India is a major source of international students in the US, with a 15 percent share and can be party explained by India’s booming economy that has enabled students to afford education abroad. However, a primary reason for this is the concept of education loans in India.

Any Indian student who secures admission in a well reputed American university and has a credit worthy cosigner can get education loans up to INR 2,000,000 (approximately US$ 40,000) from a state run bank through schemes facilitated by the Indian government. Some private banks in India offer up to INR 4,000,000 (approximately US$ 80,000).

The Indian government has gone to great lengths to implement this mechanism, which even allows lower interest rates to families with weaker financial strengths. Imagine how many students the HEC can fund if it chooses to pay for the interest on loans as opposed to fully funded scholarships.

The HEC offers thousands of graduate level scholarships, and most of these scholarships come with a bond that asks the scholar to return to the country after graduating and serve Pakistan for a given number of years. The ideas of giving scholarships and imposing obligations are both faulty for a number of reasons.

The HEC needs to devise a strategy to legislate the introduction of student loans through the banking system in Pakistan. This is a long term and sustainable plan that can help export human resources, which Pakistan has in abundance. Without any heavy investment, this could exponentially increase the number of opportunities for students in the country.

All that is required to put this plan to action is the will, not resources. Pakistan has an elaborate and successful banking structure which could benefit from a formalised loan system as well.

Student loans are popular in many other countries, including the United States. The model is such that it leads to a cycle where the money is not lost. Every coming year, the funds for providing loans would rise and an increasing number of students would be able to benefit from it.

We need not pamper our youth by providing them with fully funded scholarships; the government needs to help them become independent, self-sufficient and responsible stakeholders in Pakistan’s economy.

A session with Dilawar A. Syed

Published July 15, 2011 Events 1 Comment
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I received an invitation to moderate a session, titled ‘Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century: Opportunities for Global Youth’, from Mr. Shahid Waseem at the US Embassy in Islamabad. The event was held at the Lincoln Reading Lounge, National Library of Pakistan.

The guest speaker, Mr. Dilawar A. Syed, is the CEO of Yonja Media Group and has previously worked with big names like Deloitte Consulting, Ernst & Young, Yahoo!, SAP and Siebel Systems. In 2010, President Barack Obama appointed Dilawar to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans.

The discussion started with global business opportunities. He explained the power of social media and elaborated on how it can be used more effectively. He encouraged the youth to come forward with new and innovative ideas and emphasized on the need for more extensive public service. His resolve to serve Pakistan, while carrying out politics in the US was both impressive and inspiring.

 

Dilawar was impressed by the energy of some participants who were actively involved in social entrepreneurship. He advised these young participants on how to build upon their ideas.

‘My Fellow American’ – A much needed initiative

Published June 8, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a Comment

‘My Fellow American‘ is a short film and a social media project that aims to remind America that its beauty lies in the diversity that exists in the country. The West is increasingly becoming a victim to Islamophobia and the divide seems to become deeper every day. An initiative to counter the isolation of Muslims from the American society was long due.

If Muslims in the United States are treated differently, America would lose its essence and strengths to those working against humanity using Islam as a cover.

The curse of public sentiments

Published May 11, 2011 Politics , Published Articles Leave a Comment
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In a recent electronic address, Pervez Musharraf announced that he is a Sayyid. The desperate, attention seeking former President spoke of his visit to the roof of Kabah from where he shouted out slogans in the name of God. Taking a U-turn from his long “enlightened moderation” stance, Musharraf went on to announce his support for religious organizations. Without his army resources, this is how he thinks he can win hearts, not sure about the minds. He isn’t wrong, because this is how people play politics in Pakistan. They use emotions based on religious thought to persuade their listeners. Hypocrisy in the name of religion sells.

Too often, I hear that the leadership has not considered public sentiments while making crucial decisions regarding the fate of Pakistan. I think it is time to remind people that public sentiments have nothing to do with democracy, or any other form of government. Democracy requires a majority vote for a leadership that can make independent decisions, certainly not influenced by public sentiments, for the larger interest of the country instead of momentary relief. A crisp direction and a vision that inspires the people in required from the political leadership. Instead, in Pakistan the political and military leadership end up following the route defined by the masses. The general population is fast losing its grip on moral and social concepts and ethics and no leader seems to care. The religious leaders and clerics continue to make issues out of non-issues and the moderate leaders are too afraid to speak. Extremists have chosen to shoot whoever dares defy their thoughts. This leaves us with a leadership that tells us what we want to hear, not what we need to hear.

Every society requires a balance to survive. Sustainability demands that a country have conservatives, liberals and a sizable portion in between. General Zia ul Haq killed the secular essence in the once liberal army. Organized hypocrisy was introduced through paid beards and recruitment through recitation of the holy script. With time, the secular forces of Pakistan Peoples Party, Awami National Party and Mutahida Qaumi Movement lost weight because their leadership refused to give a bold stance on any matter remotely related to religion. They caved to public sentiments instead of shaping them. This essentially leaves Pakistan with one, religious extremist voice with a pinch of elite rebels.

The Parliament’s inability to unanimously condemn the murders of Governor Salman Taseer and Federal Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti speaks volumes about the culture that has developed in Pakistan. Both these gentlemen were outspoken critics of Pakistan controversial blasphemy laws and were faced with death threats by militant Islamist organizations. Yet, they did not let popular sentiments define their judgment. Even the Chief of the Army staff avoided publicly condemning the killings because he did not want to create unrest within the army ranks. The ability to ask questions has been shredded and religion has been left with a narrow interpretation of a few.

The problem is not to define who is correct or not. The real crisis is the eradication of the grey area. People have started thinking in black and white, leaving no space for development of logic and arguments. When talking on issues of grave importance, like the blasphemy laws and breaches of Pakistan’s sovereignty, President Asif Zardari has a very mild and unimpressive tone when talking in Pakistan. However, the President tends to write very strong and inspirational pieces in The Washington Post. This open hypocrisy clearly sends out the message that the only target of this government is to complete its term and nothing more.

Published in The Express Tribune Blog on 10th May, 2011

Youth Session on Public Speaking

Published April 6, 2011 Debating Leave a Comment
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I was invited as one of the four trainers at the Youth Session on Public Speaking organized by the Pak-US Alumni Network. The other three trainers were Jason Seymour, Rana Amaar and Dilawar Khan. The audience consisted of 60 bright faces from all age groups and included students as well as teachers from various institutes in Islamabad/Rawalpindi region.

HEC devolved at the altar of politics

Published April 6, 2011 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Like the Federal Education Ministry before it, now the Higher Education Commission (HEC) is being devolved to the provinces. The very ingredient that strengthens the fabric of a society — education– is being adulterated through a planned strategy.

Some portfolios are to be held by the federal government due to the nature of their strategic importance. For instance, letting provinces have independent foreign policies would be suicidal. Similarly, while provincial governments should manage the education infrastructure in their respective jurisdiction–which they were already doing–they should not have any control over the curriculum being taught. Every school in every province should have the same curriculum to maintain unity. Imagine if different lessons of Pakistan’s history pop up in different parts of the country? The consequences will be severe in the long run, and inter-provincial animosity will increase. Pakistan’s ideological debate would gain further energy and unrest would result.

Even General Zia-ul-haq’s education reforms, that strangled the country’s education system, will seem petty.

Dr Attaur Rahman served as the founding chairman of HEC from 2002 to 2008. Under his leadership, the organization took various bold steps that were unprecedented. From 2003 to 2008, fifty-one new universities and degree-awarding institutes were added to the country’s education infrastructure, and the university enrollment rose from 135,000 to 400, 000 students. A digital library was founded to make  scholarly publications available to students around the country. Pakistan’s Fulbright Program turned into the biggest Fulbright program in the world, sending thousands of students to the United States for Masters and PhD programs. The number of international conference and journal publications by Pakistani students experienced a stark rise.

HEC had some major achievements, but it had its share of flaws. I interviewed Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy back in December 2008 regarding the performance of the HEC under Dr Rahman. As a qualified critic, Dr Hoodbhoy pointed out that the HEC certainly increased the number of enrolled students and PhD students, but that quality was being compromised. He explained how various colleges had been given university status, just to show an increase in degree-awarding bodies. The infrastructure of these college-turned-universities was poor and the facilities remain weak.

We can criticize the HEC for not meeting its full potential, but news of its devolution to the provinces or of its dismantling is very disturbing. Pakistan needs a central body to maintain and promote higher education standards. HEC was able to show progress because it was given massive funding in the early years, and it was run by a qualified person (and not a ‘seasoned’ politician). Unlike most government branches, where it is hard to spot where money is being spent, the HEC’s work is visible in the form of various scholarship and infrastructural projects. It has been hailed internationally for an outstanding rise in Pakistan’s higher education standards.

Thousands of scholars are studying around the globe on HEC funded programs today. Pakistan has lately been isolated from the international community, with very few foreign researchers and students visiting the country. In such circumstances, it is important to send Pakistani researchers and students to different countries so that they can promote Pakistan’s image and bring back a diversified experience. Restructuring or dissolving the HEC raises the question of how these programs will be wrapped up and what problems the present scholarship holders will suffer.

Continuity is always a rusty process in developing countries. Regime change in Pakistan has no pattern, so every new government wants to rid itself of the legacy of the previous government regardless of what is at stake. Since the HEC was born in the Pervez Musharraf era, it was bound to irritate the present government. Devolving the HEC to the provinces essentially means that the federal government will no longer need to allocate a sizable fund for higher education in the country. The job of securing funds will fall into the hands of politicians, who seem to have little respect for the production of knowledge.

Devolution would be tantamount to the demise of the HEC, and that is the last thing Pakistan needs.

Published in The Express Tribune Blog on 4th of April, 2011

And Davis is gone!

Published March 16, 2011 Published Articles Leave a Comment
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Just a day before Raymond Davis’ release, news reports confirmed bilateral talks between the ISI and the CIA. A breakthrough was likely between the two organizations. Both decided to finally settle all outstanding disputes and rejoin forces for sake of their joint missions in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The next day, Raymond Davis had already left Pakistan. This was expected. The two murders he committed were no longer important. The judiciary and government were no hindrance. Nobody cared to try Mr. Davis for espionage, a case that could hardly be overlooked. Eighteen members of the family willingly forgave the murderer of their loved ones. Everything happened so quickly that it became hard to digest all at once.

Add the above two paragraphs, and the story becomes crystal clear.

At the end of the day, the US government realized that there was only one body in Pakistan that could help them. The arrest was never about the individuals who lost their lives or the integrity of the people of Pakistan. It was a rift between the two country’s agencies. It was a chance for the ISI to prove to the US that it was not going to be downplayed. The Obama administration was starting to understand Pakistan under Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. The US was finally starting to change its priorities and turn to the government of Pakistan instead of the army. No, the army and the government are not the same. The new aid being promised by the US was increasingly civilian oriented under the Kerry-Lugar bill. Moreover, last year General Shuja Pasha, the head of the ISI, was summoned by an American court on alleged charges. General Pasha is a close associate of the Chief of the Army Staff and recently got an extension at the ISI. When it gets personal, it gets rough. And Raymond Davis gave ISI the opportunity to hit back.

Many journalists and politicians, including a former Foreign Minister, polished their image using Raymond Davis. Nobody wants to talk about the dozens who die on a daily basis because of the drone attacks. That breach of sovereignty and continuous chain of murders is not popular enough these days and doesn’t appeal anymore to the masses. Playing with popular sentiments is the oldest game in Pakistani politics. And guess what? It still works.

The government handled the Raymond Davis case in the most inappropriate way. Their conduct was shameful by all means. But let’s not put all the blame on the sitting government alone. There are more players in the national policy game that never let the limelight hit them.

Pakistan-US Alumni Speech Competition 2011

Published March 9, 2011 Debating , Events 1 Comment
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The Pak-US Alumni Network organized a speech competition today at the National Library Complex. I attended the competition as one of the three judges in the panel. The other two judges were Rana Amaar and Jason Seymour, both extremely talented public speakers and trainers. The event was organized by fellow alumni, Mirza Haider and Usama Khilji.

The topics under discussion were:

1) Has feminism weakened the family?
2) Should Pakistan encourage inter-provincial marriages?
3) Should the defense budget take precedence over the education budget?
4) Can sports make Pakistan a healthier society?

Such activities are the need of the hour. The recent wave of intolerance is increasingly affecting the youth of Pakistan. All important issues facing the country are labeled as sensitive and taboos, leaving no space for intellectual activities like debating them. I commend the US embassy for supporting such an initiative and hope they will continue to promote these activities.

Details about the event can be found here.

Victims turned oppressors

Published March 4, 2011 Published Articles 5 Comments
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Before 1947, Muslims were a minority in India. They were mostly among the less educated and poor, a burden on the economy. As the weaker lot, they required help and support which India was unable to provide. A strong ambassador of the Hindu-Muslim unity ended up as the father of the sovereign Pakistan. Muhammad Ali Jinnah was convinced that India would not be able to do justice to all religious groups in the long run and began his struggle for a land free from this problem. The new country was born to eradicate the issue of inequality faced by India. Jinnah did not survive for too long after Pakistan’s birth and the country was hijacked and dragged into an ideological mess.

The color proportions on Pakistan’s flag were not set with respect to importance. They were the symbolic acceptance of all minorities and a promise to them of equal rights. The notion that the Muslim Pakistanis are somehow more Pakistani than others has been created by opportunistic politicians and the military.

Fast-forward to 2011: The Muslim majority has proved to be extremely insensitive towards the minorities of Pakistan. The victims of pre-partitioned India are the oppressors of post-partition Pakistan. Some minorities have left the country while others are terrified and are considering moving out. The only Catholic in the federal cabinet, who was struggling for minority rights in the light of the constitution of the country, was riddled with bullets. Shahbaz Bhatti dared to raise voice against the misuse of the Blasphemy Laws against the minorities in Pakistan. Recently, Salmaan Taseer, a Muslim governor of Pakistan’s biggest province, tried to challenge the use of the same laws and was injected with two dozen bullets from head to toe.

Bhatti and Taseer could have simply backed off and lived their lives. They didn’t. Both these gentlemen could have left the country whenever they wanted. They didn’t. Their families could have turned anti-Pakistan after the incidents. They didn’t. They chose to die for what they believed in. Both predicted their assassinations beforehand and refused to succumb to death threats. The air of pessimism in Pakistan’s liberal minds is understandable. The world’s concern over minority rights is legitimate. The government’s reaction after the two episodes has been nonexistent. The politicians, lawyers, human right activists, military personnel and journalists, who are usually extremely vocal, decide to take the backseat. The liberal Pakistan Peoples Party died with Benazir Bhutto. The fear is such that political leaders avoid even condemning the killings. With every passing day, it seems that the roots of intolerance are growing stronger.

However, the recent wave of disowning the country by the liberals and minorities is flawed. Those who want to leave Pakistan have the right to do so. But using the assassinations as an excuse and justification for leaving Pakistan is hypocrisy. Bhatti and Taseer stood for exactly the opposite. They stood for a united, tolerant Pakistan.

 

National integration through educational exchange

Published March 1, 2011 Published Articles 4 Comments
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Education is often confused with a predefined curriculum and a grade point average. However, it is much more and holds the capacity to shape a society. Successful education is one that evolves with time to inspire the youth towards positive and progressive change. It encourages critical thinking and creation of knowledge rather than following an existing pattern designed by others. Clearly, the Pakistani education system is not providing that. The adopted models of teaching have miserably failed. The consequences include the diluting of national integrity and pride, two things that are essential for any country to survive.

The people of Pakistan do not understand each other. Distinctions based on culture, language, region, religion, sects within religion, clothes and any other possible factor exist and plague the future of the country. Each group is adopting a cult-like following and moving towards a more rigid approach with every passing day. Some threaten to break loose from the country, while others tend to enforce their lifestyle on the population. The rule of law is becoming weaker and the lines of distinction between the people are becoming clearer. Tolerance, an essential ingredient of any society, is completely missing and extremism, not just religious, is being adopted. The very essence of a community has evaporated: minorities are being oppressed and freedom of speech is being suppressed. All this is a result of an education model that promotes isolation and hatred. Having an opinion is considered a curse.

There is no shortcut to this problem. A long term education policy is the only way forward. Intolerance requires a whole generation to phase out, that too, if strong education reforms are implemented during the phase-out process. Education is the strongest tool available to the government at any point. Intolerance and extremism are not commodities that can be destroyed, rather ideas that need to be reshaped. The lack of political say, dearth of education and nonexistent alternate opportunities are all scoring against the troubled nation.

I will not propose an expensive, idealistic solution to this government of modest authority and resources. Instead, I will focus on a solution that is easy to implement and quick to bear fruits. I propose an extensive student exchange program within the borders of Pakistan. I support a Pakistan where provincial borders are limited for administrative purposes only. I dream of a Pakistan where people are entitled to an opinion. Integrating the society is the first and foremost step if Pakistan is to prosper.

The world over, student exchange programs are extremely popular. Students are encouraged to spend some time outside their home country to learn about other environments and cultures. It works as a seed of tolerance and respect whereby the student learns to accept, adapt and adopt an alien lifestyle. It highlights the need to realize that one’s culture is not superior to another’s. Students see firsthand that humans come in different flavors of which all are to be relished. Various organizations are working in this department and facilitating opportunities for interested students.

Since having international exchange programs is very expensive, a more practical approach can be taken. The landscape of most Pakistani public universities is very unfortunate. Most students never get the opportunity to study in more than one province. Students reside in hostels based on their ethnic background. Each group flocks together, speaks its own language and indulges in fortified activities. The boundaries become so strong that no outsider can think of squeezing in. The slightest chance of learning about other people’s way of life is eliminated. Not realizing that meeting people from different backgrounds is education in itself, they deprive themselves of a tremendous opportunity to grow as a person. This is very similar to the national scenario, just a more crisp representation.

A simple exchange program between the universities of different provinces can help reduce the divides. People dislike each other not because of their behavior, but because of the developed stereotypes over an extended period of time. Instead of inducing harmony, hatred has always been promoted for political gains. There is no better way of washing away these negative stereotypes than actually living in the host environment. The public and private sector can help create a system where students can easily move from one institute to the other. Some financial support can be provided and credit be offered to students who pursue a few months of their university education in a different province. The exchange student will not only experience the new medium themselves but also contribute to the host society. He will experience firsthand association with other parts of Pakistan and will return as an ambassador for the host region. To further enhance the experience, some volunteer activities and discussion groups can be formulated as well.

Students love to study languages like English, French and Spanish. If provided with the option, many would love to learn regional languages as well. Incentives can be provided to students who learn one of Pakistan’s regional languages. Language forms an important part of any community. It can instigate violent movements or lay the foundations of peace. It is easily the biggest barrier when it comes to bringing together different communities. It is pertinent to note here that teaching English should be a high priority. As an international language, English holds the key to the latest research in all branches of sciences.

How wonderful would it be to see a Punjabi, wearing a Sindhi topi, speaking Pushto and eating Balochi Sajji in the streets of Quetta. Diversity represents beauty in most societies around the world. Unfortunately, it has turned into a burden for Pakistan and coexistence of culture and opinion has turned violent and bloody. The suggestions given above will help blur the lines of distinction and bring together a united Pakistan. They require modest resources but a strong determination.

 

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