By: Javed Khan
Private educational institutions reject decision to make mother tongues compulsory subject, demand government to focus on effective educational reforms, Private educational institutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have rejected the decision to include mother tongues like Pashto, Hindko etc. as compulsory subjects under the education board.
The private schools organization says that unilateral decisions in the name of educational reforms can affect the quality of education. Private Education Network (PEN) Provincial President Muhammad Saleem Khan and General Secretary Tahir Amin have said in a joint statement that respect for languages has its place, but the current global and national educational requirements require that the skills of students be developed and made capable of meeting future challenges. He further said that the whole world is moving towards AI while our province is moving backward in the field of education. On the other hand, reforms are underway in other provinces for the better education of children. There is a dire need to promote skill-based education, technical training, modern technology, and creative thinking in the curriculum. If Pashto, Hindko (mother tongue) subject is to be included in board examinations, then first convert your curriculum to mother tongue. He demanded that the provincial government take the private sector into confidence and formulate such educational policies that take into account the overall training of children, employment opportunities and international competitiveness. The private schools association has announced to convene a consultative meeting soon in which a formal demand will be made to the government to review the educational policies.
