The writer is an
economist, anchor,
analyst and the
President of All
Pakistan Private
Schools’ Federation
president@Pakistan
privateschools.com
Management is all about arranging and telling, whereas, leadership is about nurturing and enhancing. Pakistan is not a poor country, but poorly managed. Nature has blessed Pakistan with abundant resources, but unfortunately, the wrong people on the wrong job with bad policies and poorly managed plans let it down to the category of a Third World country. So, the country itself is not poor, it’s all about the management that we are still facing these challenges. It has failed to capitalize on and materialize the level of its governance. Understanding the dynamics of an unpredictable world is important, especially as unilateral actions by big powers and populist leaders, which mark their policies, have implications for Pakistan. In evolving its policy strategy Pakistan has to match its goals to its human and economic resources and capital. No strategy is effective unless ends and means are aligned. So Pakistan needs leaders and leadership requires wisdom, understanding, out-of-box solutions, forbearance, and accountability. It is the fundamental duty of a civilized nation to furnish its children with a comprehensive education, cultivate their potential, and nurture them into conscientious citizens who recognize their obligations to their family, society, and nation. In Pakistan, this right is safeguarded by Article 25-A of the constitution, which mandates the state to provide free and compulsory quality education to children between the ages of five and sixteen. Following the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, led by Mr. Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, Federal Secretary, bears direct responsibility for providing educational services solely within the Islamabad Capital Territory. However, the Ministry plays a pivotal role in coordinating with the federating units, and the Inter-Provincial Education Ministers’ Conference has been instrumental in this endeavour. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry demonstrated leadership by spearheading the response and launching initiatives like Teleschool to mitigate learning losses caused by prolonged school closures. The Ministry is actively working to eradicate the education apartheid that has long plagued Pakistan. This endeavour can only be achieved by enhancing the quality of education in both public sector institutions and private institutions that cater to disadvantaged segments of society. The development of a Single National Curriculum is a cornerstone of this strategy, supplemented by the introduction of Ed Tech and innovative interventions in schools within ICT, serving as a model for provincial and area governments. It is imperative that we reform our education service delivery and structure initiatives that empower learners to thrive in the face of emerging realities. Pakistan has to pursue its national goals in an unsettled global and regional environment marked by several key features. They include rising East-West tensions, increasing preoccupation of big powers with domestic challenges, ongoing trade and technology wars overlying the strategic competition between China and the US, a fraying rules-based international order, and attempts by regional and other powers to reshape the rules of the game in their neighbourhood. Pakistan has a constitutional commitment to deliver ‘free and compulsory education for all children between the ages of 5 to 16’. The government intends to go beyond it as Pakistan is committed to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) to provide ‘lifelong learning opportunities for all’. Leadership is one of the most fundamental components of a successful organization.
An organization with strong leadership is not only able to achieve its goals but also ensures that its success will be sustainable for a long period of time. Under the astute leadership of Mr Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, Federal Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, the ministry is dedicated to devising and implementing effective educational plans and strategies to address learning losses and ensure sustainable student retention, thereby guaranteeing that no child is left behind. The ministry, in conjunction with its associated entities and provincial education and training departments, has undertaken several groundbreaking initiatives. These include the reevaluation of the ‘Pakistan Education Policy 2021’, which focuses on enhancing education at all levels, transforming distant and non-formal education, engaging out-of-school children in the educational process, and imparting relevant skills. Furthermore, the development of the ‘Single National Curriculum’ aims to provide all children with equal opportunities to receive high-quality education. Additional initiatives comprise the introduction of reforms in educational assessments through the creation of a Relative Grading System at the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, the modernization of examination processing systems through digital technologies, and the reorganization of key departments within the Higher Education Commission to support integrated planning, research, and online education. The launch of ‘Hunarmand Pakistan’ under the Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan National Youth Development Programme aims to foster skills education, reduce the skill gap, and combat unemployment. The establishment of the Pakistan Institute of Education as a premier institution will function as a think tank for future policy-making and evidence-based decision-making. The concept of leadership is not straightforward and people are often confused regarding what it means to be a leader. It is a common misconception, for example, that leadership can only succeed when a person has significant power or authority. Moreover, people fall for the fallacy that bosses and leaders are synonymous with one another when in reality they are very different. Pakistan needs more than 200,000 schools and 25 million teachers by 2025 to cater to over 25 million currently out-of-school children (OOSC). The Millions of children in flood-hit Pakistan are in dire need of help, school education is at risk for millions of students. Under the leadership of Mr. Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, Federal Secretary of Education, people get more confidence when they are trusted with important decisions and leaders ensure that they create an environment where people are able to succeed in their tasks by providing the necessary support. A boss typically is someone who uses their authority or power to control people to act in a particular way, whereas a leader seeks to influence others through their actions. There are many inspirational stories of how leaders are able to transform organizations in different ways. Today’s inspirational story is all about such a leader who seeks to influence others through their actions. The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training is steadfast in its mission to positively impact national education goals and acknowledges the invaluable contributions of international partners and civil society in supporting the cause of education in Pakistan. In a groundbreaking move towards educational reform, Mr Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, has pioneered significant advancements in transforming Islamabad Model School (I-V) F-6/3. His efforts aim to bridge the gap between government and private education standards, marking a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s educational landscape. Mr. Wani’s commitment extends beyond the classroom, striving to create an ecosystem where every child receives an education that prepares them for the challenges of the modern world. The goal is to erase disparities between government and private education standards. The comprehensive approach includes refurbishing the Early Childhood Development (ECD) class, upgrading the Computer lab, and establishing an engineering toolkit classroom. Mr. Wani’s vision is clear – to provide students with an enriched learning experience, fostering holistic development. This initiative signifies a commitment to educational excellence and underscores the government’s determination to narrow the educational divide. Mr. Wani’s leadership reflects the Ministry’s unwavering dedication to providing quality education to every child, irrespective of their background. As the school undergoes this remarkable transformation, it heralds a new era in public education, setting a precedent for other institutions to follow. Mr. Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani’s visionary efforts serve as a beacon of hope, propelling Pakistan towards a future where quality education is accessible to all. The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training has also launched a National Nutritional Strategy, providing meals to underprivileged students in Islamabad to ensure their attendance in schools. Furthermore, the Ministry has developed the capacity to take along the entire Pakistan from Karachi to Khyber on its journey of educating the entire country.
“We must acknowledge that leadership matters and Pakistan’s future hangs in the balance. Pakistan needs a team of leaders like Mr. Wani who can grow, achieve and boost the rate of education, economy, and other national goals, with his expertise, experience, invaluable insights, inspiring ideas, and best practices, enriching the Ministry. Mr. Wani’s expertise, experience, and inspiring ideas have been instrumental in driving education reform in Pakistan.”
All Pakistan Private Schools Federation (APPSF), the only largest representative Federation for All Pakistan private schools includes Punjab, Sindh, KPK, Baluchistan, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir with more than 300 registered Associations; the federation which encompasses 207,000 private schools, 15 million teachers, and 26.9 million students, presented Education Recommendations for Budget 2024-25. The Federation urged the Federal and Provincial governments to allocate a minimum of 5% of the GDP towards education and research. This request is particularly pressing in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, recent floods, and high inflation rate. APPSF further recommended Government should announce tax amnesty and exemption for 10 years for investing in the education sector so that 200,000 new schools, colleges, universities, and technical and vocational institutes can be established. The Federation’s ultimate goal is to ensure that no child is deprived of education due to poverty or any other reason. APPSF also recommended to Federal & Provincial governments to allocate and spend a minimum of 3% of GDP on research and development in the new budget, by considering the pandemic, recent devastating floods, and high inflation rate. No child must be deprived of education due to poverty or any other reason. Under the leadership of Secretary of Education Mr. Mohyyuddin Ahmad Wani, aligned all its programs to achieve the targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-4). No strategy is effective unless ends and means are aligned. The transformation of Pakistan’s future hinges on the pivotal shift from autocratic bosses to visionary leaders. The imperative for authentic leadership serves as a clarion call to action, beckoning a new era of progress and prosperity. As the nation grapples with its leadership conundrum, the need for innovative and effective leadership becomes increasingly paramount. By embracing a paradigm of visionary leadership, Pakistan can break free from the shackles of the boss mentality and stride towards a brighter future. The quest for effective leadership is no longer a choice, but a critical imperative that will shape the destiny of the nation. As we heed the cry for leadership, we must recognize that leadership matters and Pakistan’s future depends on it. The clarion call for authentic leadership resounds as an imperative summons to action, heralding the dawn of a novel era of progress and prosperity. The quest for effective leadership has transcended the realm of choice, emerging as a critical imperative that shall shape the destiny of the nation. As we heed the anguished cry for leadership, we must acknowledge that leadership matters, and Pakistan’s future hangs in the balance. Pakistan needs a team of leaders like Mr. Wani who can grow, achieve and boost the rate of education, economy, and other national goals, with his expertise, experience, invaluable insights, inspiring ideas, and best practices, enriching the Ministry. Mr. Wani’s expertise, experience, and inspiring ideas have been instrumental in driving education reform in Pakistan. Mr. Wani can grow and achieve national goals, enriching the Ministry and the country as a whole. Before you become a leader, success is all about growing yourself, but when you become a leader, success is all about growing others. Keeping in view all the above efforts, it could be said with full conviction that Mr. Mr. Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, is a person in Pakistan who practically proved his leadership quality and experience. Pakistan is not a poor country, but, poorly managed. Pakistan needs only visionary and good leaders like Mr. Wani. Indeed, Pakistan needs leaders, not bosses!