Moalims

A ghost school is a school originally built for schooling but where no such activity is there. The teachers are being paid for nothing. There are approximately 12,000 ghost schools in Pakistan in spite of BECS (Basic Education Community Schools) Project being run under the supervision of Ministry of Education, Pakistan is on the verge of education turmoil with 40,000 ghost teachers and more than 5000 ghost schools in Sindh alone despite an allocation of 145 billion PKR budget for Sindh’s education system. Punjab is also tormented by the curse of ghost schools, 460 out of 58000 school buildings are used for other purposes rather than education.

Media has somewhat played a slightly constructive role in identifying the existence of this problem. These schools are contributing towards increasing child labour, unemployment, and poverty. The National Education Census report revealed that lack of management and corruption are the main causes of existence of “ghost schools” in Punjab specifically. In an attempt to decrease disparity in education, SAP (The Social Assistance Programme) was launched in mid 90’s that increased the number of women receiving education.

According to students studying in Kinnaird College For Women, there should be a “single education system” instead of Matric / O’levels. Government should introduce an improved curriculum, and another student was off the opinion that we cannot afford free education at the moment, students should pay at least 100 RS per month so that teachers are paid well enough and decide to prefer government schools over private schools. The fiasco of ghost schools can be rehabilitated only if all the major problems of education systems are taken under consideration.

According to officials, the period from 97-98 is considered as a “cleansing session” of the education department but with the passage of time, corruption and “ghost schools” started appearing again. This phenomenon was prevalent because cash was handed over to teachers but just recently Punjab Government has introduced a system that allowed transfer of salaries through bank account. Some people who live around the ghost schools in Punjab also reported that many drug addicts and homeless people intruded the schools at night and also began stealing fans and other things to sell as scrap.

In 2004, Swades an Indian movie was released that perfectly described the condition of poverty stricken education system in countries such as India and Pakistan. This movie directed by Ashutosh Gowariker showed a devastating picture of education. Along with the dilemma of “ghost schools” there are many schools in Pakistan that lack basic facilities and international attention is more focused on terrorism in madrassas by Taliban and other problems of education are usually overlooked.

According to a teacher of Punjab University, government needs to understand the importance of education and declare it as a weapon to fight corruption, she also suggested that government officials should visit schools every year and identify the existence and working of schools. She further added that an accountability bureau should be established for the education system in Pakistan. The government should ensure that the budget for education is not pilferaged and they should also use funds allocated for education more efficiently.

Maheen Ahmed
—Via email