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Education is the cornerstone upon which any society builds its progress, but this vital sector in Pakistan faces hurdles ranging from the lack of infrastructure to governance issues. In the 7th episode of Let’s Talk Education Season 3, Dr. Sajid Ali, a leading expert on education governance and the Director of Research at the Aga Khan University’s Institute of Educational Development, shed the light on the pressing need for systematic reform and stability in the education landscape of Pakistan.
The Core Challenge: Ad hocism in Governance
At the heart of Pakistan’s educational challenges lies a pervasive issue—ad hocism. Dr. Sajid highlighted how frequent political instability hinders continuity of policies and initiatives. Unlike other democracies where governments follow clear cycles of policymaking, Pakistan’s ever-shifting political landscape prevents long-term planning.
“Ad hocism is the mother of all governance challenges,” Dr. Sajid remarked. “When political and administrative positions are unstable, it breeds the culture of prioritizing temporary fixes against sustainable solutions.”
This instability affects everything including resources, curricula, and so on. According to Dr. Sajid, this short-term orientation leads to focusing on the trends: What technology to integrate? How to promote gender equity? Meanwhile, the more fundamental agenda items, like universal access to quality education, remain unresolved.
The Role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)
Since public financing for education is insufficient for current needs, public-private partnerships are often seen as a potential avenue for redressing Pakistan’s education woes. Dr. Sajid elaborated on various PPP models, such as the Punjab and Sindh Education Foundations, and philanthropic efforts like the Zindagi Trust, Durbin, and The Citizens Foundation. All of these have shown promise and success with access and quality of education, especially in underserved areas.
However, not all PPPs are effective. Dr. Sajid cautioned, “We often over-exaggerate private sector capacity and underestimate the public sector role. For a PPP to work, the government must build a strong monitoring and evaluation mechanism, otherwise, we will be taking the risk of compromising on equity, quality, and sustainability.”
The Importance of Teacher Licensing
Continuing the discussion, Dr. Sajid reflected upon another significant topic—introduction of teaching licensing policy in Sindh; an initiative in which he has been closely involved. This policy, modeled on global best practices, ensures that teachers do not enter classrooms without meeting minimum professional standards.
“In Pakistan, we expect teachers to perform without ensuring they have the right skills and training,” said Dr. Sajid. “The teaching license is not a penalty but an incentive. Teachers who qualify can advance their careers and contribute to a better learning environment for students.”
The pilot program in Sindh has accredited over 600 teachers thus far. The intended result is to scale the model for other provinces and even the private sector to follow, thereby raising the overall educational standard.
Data-Driven Decision-Making: The Future of Education Governance
Dr. Sajid also emphasized the critical role of data and research in shaping effective education policies.
“We need policies that are informed by evidence, not just opinions or external pressures,” Dr. Sajid stated. “With initiatives like Data and Research in Education (DARE) and the Pakistan Institute of Education (PIE), we are finally seeing a shift toward data-backed decision-making. This is crucial for creating sustainable change.”
One standout achievement in this realm is PIE’s transformation from the Academy for Educational Planning and Management (AEPAM) into a think tank focused on leveraging data to inform policies. By tapping into resources like the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS), PIE is bridging the gap between data collection and actionable insights.
The discussion concluded with a critical takeaway: governance reforms must focus on long-term stability and evidence-based policymaking. By addressing ad hocism, strengthening public-private partnerships, investing in teachers’ training and data-driven initiatives, Pakistan can lay the groundwork for an education system that is not only equitable but also capable of meeting future challenges.
While the journey is difficult, efforts like those led by Dr. Sajid Ali demonstrate that change is possible when stakeholders work collaboratively. As Dr. Sajid aptly put it, “At the end of the day, the system must benefit the child. If it fulfills its constitutional mandate, it’s successful. Otherwise, we’re just selling false promises.”
Click below for the full episode 👇
