David Miliband

Foreign Secretary

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Sunday 20 September, 2009

Pakistan: Education, Education, Education

I took Sir Michael Barber to see President Zadari today to discuss a proposal that the Prime Minister and I have been discussing with the President on education in Pakistan. It is a young country in terms of demographics, with tens of millions of young people yearning for a decent education - and yet to get one. Big money is planned to flow into education in Pakistan including, for example, from the US’s Kerry-Lugar Bill, (providing 1.5bn dollars a year for civilian assistance). The government has a National Education Commission. But the problem is more strategy than implementation. It is said that literally hundreds of schools are built but have neither teachers nor pupils.

Sir Michael will lead a UK-Pakistan Education Task Force with strong engagement from the President and his team. It will focus on getting the basics of structure and accountability into the system - from teacher training to school management. I look forward to what should be a real multiplier of results.

Posted at 12:14 20 September 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[5]

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Of course education starts and probably ends "at home" - if we look at learning as a life-long voluntary thing.Thus said, one wonders how this education commission will manage to understand and respect the most positively diverse range of educational needs ie some might want to go to school and some might want to be educated otherwise.. How can those concerned with education safely account for attendance at school without subecting citizens to any unnecessary or inappropriate disciplinary/appeal type processes or consent type forms?

Posted by Mrs.Josephine Hyde-Hartley on September 20, 2009 at 02:38 PM BST #

May I suggest we look at British education rather than other countries education. Heaven help them if they follow our example. Are they too going to have Neurotoxic Flouride put in their water, or 10-20 Vaccines loaded with neurotoxic mercury, or MSG, Aspartame, all to deliberately dumb down the British people. My advice to the Pakistani people if they love their children, is to deny entry to any of our MP's.

Posted by Adrian Peirson on September 25, 2009 at 10:06 PM BST #

I sincerely hope this can bring some change and improve education system in Pakistan. So many deserving children are not able to access education at all. Though I have to say its wrong that schools are being built but there are no teachers. The only schools being built are private schools for the rich. poor families are only able to access schools where you wont even find appropriate furniture.

Posted by Fajer Rabia on September 30, 2009 at 08:07 PM BST #

Pakistanis are talented but the teacher`s selection is very bad. personality , communication skills are not considered important for a teacher. If a teacher is selected properly and trained and tested regularly, pakistan education system can improve.

Posted by shahzada gulfam on October 01, 2009 at 04:54 AM BST #

Respected Mr. David Miliband Have you ever noticed the problems faced by students in PAKISTAN who take the Cambrdge A levels exam? Ask Me. I am a straight A student, but now I regret my decision of taking Cambridge international examination because now i cannot get admission in to any medical school in PAKISTAN.

Posted by Muhammad Taimoor Shah on October 08, 2009 at 08:00 PM BST #

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