Education is knowledge of putting one’s potentials to maximum use. The training of a human mind is not complete without education. It makes man a right thinker and it enables him to receive information and knowledge from the external world. Education is necessary not only for individuals but societies as well. The basic function of education is to help individual to be mentally and socially mature. For the purpose of personality development a proper education system is required which not only develop intellectual and social sense but enhance their potentials and skills to maximum. The standard of education system in Pakistan is pathetic.
There are basically three kinds of system so far running, private institution that cater to elite class, government institution which are cost effective for the lower income group and madrasa system providing religious education. Every system has targeted different class of people providing separate mode of education. Main stream formal education lacks enough exposure to religious teachings and Quranic Philosophy, in contrast to this madrasa system is going to the other extreme offering religious education exclusively. Increasing personality complex, unsecured careers, class distinction, unequal career opportunities, unequal participation in democratic processes, weak human ties and absence of ethical rules are the effects of multiple education systems existing in society.
Lather says, “Education is the activity that purpose for bringing up a child or a young. It is a set of the acquired intellectual and manual habits, as well as ethical features.” The philosophers and educationists put stress not only on the importance of education but they equally highlight complete function of education i.e. academic excellence along with ethical and spiritual development. Plato says, “Education stands for granting the souls and bodies as much possible an amount of aesthetes and perfection.” For Gold Simon, “Education is the way of making the intellect a real intellect and heart a real heart.” Complete definition of education indicates that education should be the tool of achieving intellectual growth along with nourishing souls with virtual ethics.
The period of 800 to 1300 A.D. was the golden period when Muslims scholars were spreading knowledge of modern science. They were making new discoveries and inventions and writing books on various branches of science when most of the present day developed countries of Europe were passing through so called ‘dark age’. Muslims were the first to introduce experiments for verification of theories. The historians of science admit the fact that modern science has developed through the firm scientific foundation laid by Muslims scientists. Muslims scientists were not only aware of Quranic values but they were also inspired by Quranic idealisms in acquiring scientific knowledge for the benefit of mankind. We have separated religion from science but they aren’t two different philosophies.
The separation of science from religion allowed scientific growth but ignored and devalued the ethical values with no social goals while Quran itself encourages individuals to adopt scientific methods for acquiring knowledge. It inspires mankind search for truth by firm observation. It also inspires for consistent research to analyze facts. It motivates mankind to adopt rational and scientific approach and for this reason Allah has blessed man with intellect, power to observer and debate, and search for truth for the accomplishment of this goal.
Herbert Spencer said, “The accurate education can be practical through the accurate philosophy.” Spencer used the term ‘accurate philosophy’ which indicates the kind education system which offers academic excellence along with strong virtual ethics. This kind of education system would practice accurate education. Instead of having multiple education systems we should have single system of complete education that is a blend of formal education and strong moral ethics and values. Instead of going to either extreme both systems should be merged into one in order to provide complete education.
Modern education system has gained excellence in academic education but lacks the ability to provide equal chance to ethical and spiritual development which is possible only when the system would harmonize with Quranic Philosophy. With a combination of academic excellence and Islamic philosophical teaching this system will not only produce professionals in their specific fields but also practical Muslims.
In current education system Islamic studies should be replaced by Islamic philosophy to provide a practical insight about religion. Arabic language should be introduced as a second language at an appropriate stage. Urdu will remain our language but English should be given higher preference in order to meet international standards of education and for the purpose of communication as well. While keeping the current status of education system in our country, one would take the idea of single system of complete education as impossibility to be implemented but it isn’t as difficult as it seems. People need to have a complete understanding of this system and the positive changes this system can bring in our society.
This system will eliminate inconsistencies from the current education system and will motivate the students to use scientific technology and resources for the benefit of mankind. It will not only excite them to have the spirit to enquire but will make them intellectuals who has the cause to serve humanity. This system will encourage them to have advancement in knowledge in a more meaningful and systematic way. It will provide a balance between modern scientific education and development of society in a positive direction.
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March 9th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
An Interesting writeup!- especially as i feel it is provoking!
In my opinion, education is a important but certainly not the only condition to attain personal development, maturity and other social factors.
The core crux of education should be to set the seeds of learning, it should teach us how to learn, evaluate and grow upon ones-self!
As otherwise, how does a mathematician, social scientist or pure accountant be classified as an educated individual, as how we understand it!
Especially in a country such as Pakistan- Very rarely, if at all, do you study much about society (beyond the subsistence level, which causes more confusion than clarity) in a pure mathematics degree and very rarely do you study numbers and be trained as a money churning machine in fields of core anthrolopolgy or philosophy. Therefore, its underlying purpose has to be beyond its field of scope and focus and based on the empowerment of the mind as a tool of learning (an on-going process)!
As otherwise, the concept of ‘para likha jahil’ would be a mainstream, if it already isnt!
I believe harmonization of standard, atleast as a minimum is a must. However, I do not see the benefits of harmonization in knowledge and reproduction of protype individuals- beyond the basic level, as people should have the choice to choose a specific speciality.
‘Arabic as a second language, english of greater importance and urdu will remain our language’ - I wonder what the spanish, french or german would say if such a recipe was given to their native language.
I personally think, such would further deepen the wounds, it feeds upon inequality in our society- urdu speakers are looked down upon. Language sets social standards, to the extend that the accent, tone and interpretation of english as a language is an indicator of intellectual understanding in our society.
In a such a plagued enviroment further demeaning urdu, i.e if we want to continue to take pride and identify ourselves as urdu speakers- cannot be the best way forward.
To be respected by the outer sphere, we need to respect ourselves first!
Therefore, as a core prioiry we need to break the stigmas existent in our society as a first, we do not need to re-set our values to suit the needs of the exterior world. Build on what you have, be proud, respect and value your own self -the whole world will follow- Business, trade and money will allow follow pursuit!
On a broader level, there certainly exist structural problems in the mind set and realities of our society, note: not just the massess but also the elite.
March 9th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
sorry, a typing error:
Build on what you have, be proud, respect and value your own self-the whole world (Business, trade and money inclusive) will follow.
March 23rd, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I appreciate your comments Ali but whatever I wrote was completely my idea of education system we should have in our society neither I am influenced by the west nor I am degrading our language, identity and pride. If I write english should be given more importance and arabic should be compulsory only because I firmly believe that a system should harmonized with International standards and it should produce practical muslims as well who shouldnt be confined to madrasa system only.