Humaira Ahmad – My Bit for Change

The misleading labels

Ignorance is no bliss and its captives are unknowingly in a sorry state of affairs. In my opinion, stereotypes are a form of ignorance defined by a restricted and conventional set of perceptions about a thing, a place or a people. Most of us rely on them because we don’t know any better and unconsciously our belief in them becomes so stringent that often the boundary between what is real and what is merely a ubiquitous opinion becomes blurred . We cloud our own minds with mumbo jumbo that hasn’t an inkling of objectivity and proudly stick up for these nonsensical perceptions.

I think a larger part of the problem lies in the fact that we are too quick to judge, consequently forming set opinions. A prudent approach would be to just observe for a while, analyze and digest the concept that experience is the best teacher. Joining the bandwagon because everyone is doing it makes one prone to harbouring prejudices. Stereotypes need not always have negative connotations; they can be positive too but the point to note is that they are generated through the media and get literally ingrained in our thought processes. More often than not, these stereotypes propagated by the media have covert agendas. For instance, the meaning of Taliban which is plural for talib means a group of students, but now the term is akin to a terrorist organization; courtesy the western media. In newspapers, magazines, editorials, television news, entertainment, documentaries, popular fiction and textbooks, the general consensus points towards the fact that Arabs and more generally Muslims are being portrayed in a racist, stereotypical and negative fashion.l. A lot of news channels admit to not being able to report fairly about Islam and as a result they report on and talk about Islam based on their limited and often misconstrued knowledge. For instance, reporters often define ‘Jihad’ as a holy war when it’s real meaning is struggle against an unjust cause. Another term that is often misused is fundamentalism which is almost always used to mean Islamic fanaticism.

Another prime example is that of the African Americans who are generally considered to be hustlers and potentially dangerous. However, research proves otherwise, disclosing that most serious crimes (homicide, rape, robbery, and assault) in inner cities are committed by a very small proportion of African-American youth estimated at around 8% but despite that, the tendency to characterize all African-American males as criminals has an unnerving prevalence in the American society. I think Walter Lippman, journalistic critic and author was absolutely right in saying,

‘The subtlest and most pervasive of influences are those which create and maintain the repertory of stereotypes. We are told about the world before we see it. We imagine most things before we experience them. And, those preoccupations, unless education has made us acutely aware, govern deeply the whole process of perception.’

It is sad to see even the most educated of people having very constricted notions and speaking out of utter ignorance. If anything, an educated mind focuses on rationale, objectivity and common sense. It is a fact that no two people are alike, so the very idea that entire races are categorized never fails to bewilder me. Media is no God and what it portrays is not always accurate, sometimes it is better to delve into a quest for knowledge about different cultures, their social fabric, their beliefs etc. rather than blindly following it.

I feel social interaction can really change your mind about a lot of things you thought were true about people from different parts of the world. It certainly helped me broaden my spectrum of thought. I have to be honest, when I first decided to move to Australia for higher studies, I too had preconceived notions of what people would be like, although I did not openly profess them. I anticipated supreme white attitude and was mentally prepared to face it. Now, having been living in Sydney for six months and travelling daily on public transport, I can safely say that I was mistaken. So far I have not encountered even a single case of racial discrimination. If anything, I was pleasantly surprised at how affable some of the Australians I cut paths with were. I won’t say that all Australians are forthcoming and open to foreigners simply because I have not met all of them, but I will say that there is potential for good and bad amidst every society. Traits just cannot be generic.

So for me, if there is one thing that holds true, it is the notion that you just cannot believe it until you see it!

Revamping education in Pakistan

I don’t think anyone would deny the fact that we live in a cut throat world where time is money and skill is paramount. The practical life knows just one thing and that is how to live the ‘dog-eat-dog-way’, all the while trying to make one-self indispensable. We all know that it comes down to selling yourself, your personality, your traits and of course your skill. The dilemma is that schools, colleges and universities are not equipping students to face the competitive arena where the dynamics of the job market is constantly evolving and raising the bar for new entrants. Truth of the matter is bookish knowledge and emphasis on grades is not only useless but also pointless considering the current time.

What we should be focusing now is on changing the way we perceive education. The typical classroom environment is no longer viable if a meaningful education is what we are aiming for, primarily because it has become obsolete. This is the age of information technology where individuals are being bombarded with varying perspectives from a myriad of media and communication outlets. Come to think of it, the privileged lot in our country holds the entire world in their smart phone. They don’t need to cram information from books and lectures that can easily be found over the internet. Instead they need practical hands on knowledge that will prepare them for work life. I am not suggesting that theoretical knowledge should be neglected altogether, but practical education should be given precedence. One way of doing that is by getting students to attend seminars, arranging field visits, incorporating internships as part of the course and encouraging group activities.

Most educational institutes in Pakistan focus on theoretical rather than practical knowledge and in my opinion this just kills creativity. Memorizing mundane books which have little relevance to the real world are an integral part of the curriculum. Schools function like factories that produce batches and batches of the same product that just do not sell. There is not an inkling of zeal in the Pakistani schooling system. However before we can even talk about changing the curriculum nationwide, we need to realize that no good is going to come if the government continues to spend less than 2% on such a fundamental sector. Perhaps the only good that can come from this dismal situation is that when our dear government does decide to prioritize education they can revamp the entire system and implement it across the country. Simply put, starting from scratch and adopting a model that has worked for other developing countries, Malaysia being a case in point. Truth be told, we don’t need private schools that offer Ordinary and Advanced (O and A ) levels if our own standard of education is up to mark like that of our nemesis India. Another point I would like to emphasize is the relevance and significance of grades, standardized testing systems and overall academic performance. I believe that a piece of paper depicting class performance proves nothing about an individual’s true potential. Instead having hands on experience, an ability to envision novel ideas and a noteworthy intellect is what education should be honing.

Now more than ever Pakistan must focus on vocational training institutes and help people polish their indigenous skills. We have a huge workforce that has the potential to uplift the country’s economy if it is TRAINED. Our abundant population can become a blessing if every able body is trained and given basic level education.

Not every person is cut out to be a doctor or an engineer some are not even bright enough to finish school but that does not mean that they are worthless and can contribute absolutely nothing to society. Every profession from plumbing to engineering is important and we can’t expect people to acquire these skills on their own. Hence, I believe specialized schools or training centers are a must. Getting women on this bandwagon is also fundamental because believe it or not they can offer so much more than child bearing. Hence the important question to ask is this: we have a workforce so why don’t we make it work?

What’s your priority?

How different this world would be if leaders, followers and individuals could prioritize on something other than ulterior motives. Somehow or the other I feel we are all to an extent being governed by the ‘what’s in it for me ideology?’. It has become so hard to live selflessly in this dog eat dog existence where long gone are the days of altruism. I don’t consider myself any different from everyone else but lately I have begun to envision things that impinge on my conscience.

This planet is host to 6.8 billion people out of which 925million people are malnourished, in other words 13.6% of the world population is living with hunger. The very notion that it sounds just like a number, and perhaps nothing more than mere statistic is disquieting. Most of us are too besotted with our lives to shed even a momentary thought on how the current state of affairs will affect and is affecting the sordid lives of the many who live under a dollar a day.

It is infuriating that the destitute have to bear the brunt of thriving economies who are actually flourishing at their expense. I don’t think anyone can challenge the fact that most Multi National Companies are akin to colonialists who use, abuse and exploit resources in the poor host countries. Fact is developed countries, the US of A a case in point, are only capable of displaying ‘realpolitik’ and there show of compassion is a downright farce. The past, present and future depicts their blatant human rights breach and yet they claim to idolize humanity and world peace.

Nonetheless I do not consider the role and interference of any foreign element as the sole contributor of the social, economic and political upheaval of our country. The acute shortage of energy, inflation and high unemployment prevails because we as a people have no gumption to take to the streets and envision a revolution that liberated parts of the Middle East. It is unnerving that nobody cares if the taxpayers money is being spent on setting up ostentatious monuments or to bail out inefficient public sectors. It is unnerving that nobody spares a thought on the 32.6% of Pakistani people who are living with poverty day in and day out struggling to make enough for a few morsels of food.It is unnerving that we take pride in the beauty of the capital city of Islamabad and ignore the existence of 35+ slums home to thousands of people who believe it or not are also residents of the capital city. Since Zia’s regime in 1985 the CDA was given the sole responsibility of upgrading and rehabilitating the inhabitants of katchi abadis and how far have they come since 1985 in accomplishing this feat? In these past 27 years they managed to legalize ten squatter settlements and provided them with electricity, water and gas connections. A survey would reveal how little their lives have change since 1985 because realistically speaking they are still inhabitants of SLUMS. For heaven’s sake Japan rose from ashes after being nuked in less than 27 years and the best we could do is provide basic civic amenities?

Development has never been Pakistan’s agenda. It is a country endowed with rich natural resources which unfortunately it cannot even excavate on its own. It has a coastal line of 1050km which if fully utilized by setting up wind mills can make a huge difference in the lives of people living in surrounding villages but the only thing standing in the way of such an investment is priority, good leadership and sheer will power. It is about time some kind of initiative is taken to make everyone’s life better and not just that of a specific segment of society. Like Mark Twain says:

‘ The secret of making progress is to get started. The secret to starting is to divide your complex, overwhelming task into small, manageable tasks, and then start the first.’

Nothing you do today to change things for a better tomorrow will have any kind of detrimental or drastic consequence on your life. What stands between the development of Pakistan is not just the inept leadership but also the complacent Pakistanis.

Plight of Pakistani students

Being an International student can be very stressful especially if you have to go it alone. Naive Pakistani students leave home in high spirits to acquire the ‘waliyati’ education because it offers bright prospects and opens doors to plenty of dough encompassed with a life changing experience. I do vouch for all that and I cannot deny the fact that the curriculum, instructors and facilities that can be found in most institutions of higher learning in countries like the United States, Canada, UK and Australia are unparallel to the ones found back home but does that imply that the few who do get the opportunity to study in fancy schools are living a life of envy? As much as they would like to say ‘yes’, deep down inside they will only hear a resonating ‘no’.

It is not easy being an international student, living in an alien environment, being a part of a microcosm of multiculturalism and dealing with harrowing situations. Sure, the idea of studying abroad is riveting, until you actually do it. Everything associated with the ‘waliyati’ education comes at a hefty cost and by that I don’t just mean in monetary terms but also in terms of physical and mental wellbeing. More often than not it takes leaving home to realize that we are truly blessed with a lifestyle that is probably out of reach for the average Joe Smith studying at London School of Economics.

Most students belonging to upper middle class families have at their disposition fine dining, housekeeping, clean laundry amidst other things that they take for granted. It is only when they have to do all that on their own do they begin to appreciate things back home. Not that I think that there is anything wrong with doing all those chores, it’s just that no level of mental preparedness helps one to keep up with all these cumbersome duties. Self sufficiency is a hard feat to conquer and only the strong willed can make it. Life as an international student means balancing work, studies and house chores contrary to partying, sightseeing and relaxing. If anything it means your workload is tripled and your nerves are always on edge. Matters are only made worse when the family back home decides to cut down your allowance forcing you to fend for yourself. By the end of the educational sojourn many are exhilarated about going back to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan only to find a dismal and bleak state of affairs.

If only Pakistan had institutes of high caliber devoted to different schools of learning many would comfortably stay home without having to slave all day in an alien country. Of course it’s a different scenario if the entire family is settled but that is just the ideal situation. It is very common for most of the student Diaspora to share small apartments surviving the minimalistic way. Fact of the matter is many individuals sacrifice the good life back home in return for quality acquisition of knowledge. Worse yet, many who come back as graduates from top universities find that there is little opportunity in Pakistan’s job market especially if they want to make it big. As much as they want to stay home they are forced to go back in search for a better living because the government just doesn’t give two tarts about improving the social, economic and educational prospects of the country. Consequently Pakistan has been facing acute brain drain and more so in the recent years but apparently this grave problem has been conveniently sidelined.

If our country continues to spend less than 3% of its GDP on education and instead chooses to consistently increase its defence budget to RS.495 billion for a threat that may just be more perceived than real then one shouldn’t even bother anticipating change.

It is so unfortunate that a country that has a rich endowment of resources and young people brimming with talent is not doing anything to hone it. Pakistani students are blessed with great intellect and they deserve much better than struggling to get the quality of education that is so easily accessible to their white counterparts. If only the leaders of our country had even a foresight to acknowledge the importance of knowledge based society!