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This paper applies Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) as well as data analysis to gain a better understanding of the existing perception on the education system. 45,278 tweets were downloaded and processed. Using a lexicon-based approach, examining the most frequently used words, and estimating similarities between terms, we detected that a predominantly negative perception of the education system exists in most of the analysed countries. A positive perception is identified in certain low-income nations. Men exhibit a more positive sentiment than women as well as a higher subjectivity in some countries. The countries that exhibit the most positive perceptions India, Canada, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa and Kenya are also those that manifest the highest subjectivity.

This article contextualises Education in Pakistan, a White Paper (2007), an influential education policy paper in Pakistan. The focus is on the ways the White Paper constructs its own contexts as a complement to the policy solutions proffered. Here we recognise Seddon's point about the discursive work of policy in constructing context. We focus on the way the White Paper constructs its political/ideological context and its global/national context. The White Paper works with the trope of a binary construction of Islam - fundamentalist or moderate - which rearticulates Orientalist Western constructions. The analysis of the construction of the global/national contexts demonstrates the framing of the policy by the Millennium Development Goals, and the Washington and post-Washington consensus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The critical need for national unity in Pakistan, particularly among the Pashtun community, while addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by ethnic, sectarian, and dialectal divisions. The study begins by providing a historical context that outlines the formation of Pakistan and the subsequent emergence of various identities that have often overshadowed a collective national identity. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the paper explores effective strategies for fostering unity, emphasizing the role of education in promoting awareness and understanding among diverse groups. It discusses the significance of political reforms aimed at creating an inclusive governance framework that respects ethnic diversity while prioritizing national interests. Cultural exchange programs are also highlighted as vital tools for enhancing interaction and cooperation among different communities. By embracing diversity as a strength rather than a weakness, this research advocates for an inclusive national identity that transcends ethnic boundaries. Ultimately, this paper aims to contribute to the discourse on nation-building in Pakistan, offering actionable insights for policymakers and community leaders to promote a harmonious society that celebrates its rich cultural tapestry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is an index to the articles published in the December 2003 issue of the journal Research Papers in Education. Some of the index items are "An Analytical Review of Pakistan's Educational Policies and Plans," by Muhammad Ahsan, "Re-Engaging With Education," by Gaynor Attwood, Paul Croll and Jane Hamilton, "Ability Groupings in the Primary School: Issues Arising From Practice," by Jane Davies, Susan Hallam and Judith Ireson, "Changing Practice Through Policy: Trainee Teachers and the National Numeracy Strategy," by Tehmina N. Basit, etc.

The governance of Pakistan has gone through paradoxes in last five decades which have slanted the normal functioning of an existing government mainly because of treacherous intentions involved. Governance is answerable for administrating the country's social and economic resources. This administration in turn requires a system of accountability and adequate reliable information for placement of revenues of country efficiently. Although the 18th amendment has provided a strong foundation for deepening of administration affairs at local level, the policy has not been fully implemented. This research paper aims to strengthen devolution at local level for essential administrative delivery functions closest to the citizens which would ultimately help to reassert better governing system. In this milieu, this research has focused on analyzing the functions of two main sectors of health and education in the post 18th amendment implementation phase. Another important aspect is the evolving role of religion and sectarian issue which has created hindrances for the effective policy implementation. The paper is descriptive in nature and has attempted to examine independent variable of Pakistan's administration is being compared with dependent variable of government through an inundated governance. The paper focuses on the research question of how a Pakistan's administration will fully decentralized to manage the affairs of country at closest possible citizenship level as there is a need for government to govern the "council of common interests for stronger inter-provincial coordination platform" for forging national consensus which can accelerate the process of development of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the role of Madaris in Pakistan's educational system and their alleged connection to radicalization and extremism due to a lack of emphasis on critical thinking, morality, and exclusive religious epistemological sources. In contrast to the prevalent simplifications attributing their function to Madaris, this paper argues that the conventional general education system has also failed to prioritise morality and inclusive epistemology in its curricula. Therefore, it is essential to adopt a more nuanced approach to the analysis of the education system, and it is argued that a comprehensive approach that acknowledges both inclusive epistemology and morality is required for an environment conducive to the maintenance of sustainable societal harmony. The paper argues that by employing such an approach, students can appreciate diversity and diverse perspectives, develop critical thinking skills, and be better equipped to promote social cohesion and peace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The "Global strategy on human resources for health: Workforce 2030" was adopted by the 69th World Health Assembly. Among its objectives is the strengthening of data on human resources for health, to inform evidence-based policy decisions. These data include the course completion and drop-out rates, to inform mechanisms that support recruitment and retention. Objective: This paper sought to evaluate trends in course completion and drop-out rates of health workforce students. However, original data were only obtained for pre-service medical students, but no other health worker occupational groups. Methods: A mixed method approach was employed to obtain data presented in this paper. A structured questionnaire was sent out to targeted medical training institutions, regulatory bodies, and National Medical Associations, supplemented by a web and literature search for existing studies or data reports. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 21.0 (Chicago, IL, USA) and Microsoft Excel 2010. Results: Eight previously published studies were identified originating from six countries, with course completion rates ranging from 84% in Pakistan to 98.6% in the United States of America, while the drop-out rates ranged from 1.4% in the United States of America to 16% in Pakistan. An analysis of pre-service medical students in Australia and New Zealand, revealed average course completion rates of 93.3% and 96.9%, respectively, and average drop-out rates of 6.7% and 3.1%, respectively. An analysis of pre-service medical students from Nigeria, revealed an average course completion rate of 88.3%, and an average drop-out rate of 11.7%. Data were not readily available for most countries targeted during the research, either because of lack of existing mechanisms for collation of required data or restrictions making such data publicly unavailable and inaccessible. Conclusions: Drop-out rate for pre-service medical students varies across countries with some countries recording higher drop-out rates, which raise significant concerns about the capacity of such countries to scale up production of human resources for health. Data that monitor both course completion and drop-out rates, and seek to provide insight into reasons for observed numbers, can inform mechanisms to address the causes of course drop-out and support student retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Education is the most prolific pillar of humanitarian response in emergency situations. During and after emergencies, education affords opportunities for the children, their families and communities to move towards the rehabilitation process and learn the required skills for leading a standard life. The paper is based on review of available literature and for this purpose, an extensive review of research articles, newspapers, books, and online material was carried out regarding need and importance of education during and after conflict. As the conflict between Swat, Malakand and FATA Merged Districts (MDs) started in 2007 and continued until 2010, the main focus of this study is on educational problems during the mentioned period. The study aims to explore the hurdles in the provision of education during the conflict in the study area. In addition, the study aims to learn about the problems faced by teachers during the conflict. The study concludes that conflict in the study area has badly affected the education sector by depriving children of education. The schools were closed and the teachers were issued threats, due to which the teachers left their houses and got shifted to safer areas. Girl schools and female teachers suffered the most as girls education was declared un-Islamic. The study recommends that education ought to be the top priority of both the government and private sectors during times of conflict and temporary schools should be established for continuous education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is based on some key findings of an original research carried out to explore the issue of inequitable access to education within caste-based social structures in rural Punjab, Pakistan. Data from 36 interviews with low and high caste parents, school heads and four key informant focus groups in two villages in southern and central Punjab revealed that schooling costs remained difficult to manage for the poorest low-castes despite provision of government sponsored free schools. Bourdieu's social critical framework used with specific reference to his notion of capitals reveals processes of social reproduction. The economic capital transubstantiates into social and cultural capital, refracting into schooling costs that are not just economic but also temporal, psychological and social for the lowest caste groups. This limits the impact of economic subsidies offered by the government for expanding educational access. The paper contributes to the current literature by arguing that policies aimed at equitable educational access must conceptualize educational costs as multidimensional, just as poverty itself is not just economic but multifaceted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although STEM is an essential feature of 21st-century education and learning, there is a lack of awareness about it in Pakistan, especially at the K-12 and tertiary levels. Recently many initiatives have been launched across Pakistan to create more interest in STEM education. In order to assist in raising the level of STEM awareness in Pakistan, this study sought to examine the current state of research and identify recent contributions and gaps in the literature. A systematic literature review was conducted using 22 research papers from five renowned databases. Results produced limited research in this area, with the majority being descriptive and only four being interventional studies. Regrettably, no research explored the engineering component of STEM education. Trends indicate that STEM education research has experienced a downward trend in Pakistan. The observed decline may have occurred due to a lack of understanding among Pakistani researchers regarding the importance of STEM education. Additionally, we identified the current gaps in research on STEM education and subsequently provided recommendations for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan's Punjab province has witnessed numerous education reforms in recent years. Many of these reforms have been aimed at improving the well-documented low levels of learning by focusing on improving teaching quality. The rhetoric suggests that government schools, particularly those in rural areas with a more disadvantaged pupil base, are especially ineffective at imparting learning. This paper seeks to investigate whether children in rural Punjab are learning literacy and numeracy over the course of a year, and if so, are some pupils progressing more than others. Using recently collected data, it finds that children in our sample are making progress. Variation in progress is found to be greater within schools rather than across them. The competence and qualifications of a teacher also makes a significant difference to a child's academic progress. The paper further finds differential progress for rich and poor students within schools, suggesting an important role for education policy to put in place targeted support towards those from disadvantaged backgrounds to ensure improvements in their learning keep pace with their peers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International teacher-educator learning supports a more complex vision of teacher professionalism for both developed and developing countries. The aim of this paper is the analysis of Pakistani teacher-educator professional learning after attending an international blended course, considering the impact of online and faceto- face participation and the main competencies involved in their professional learning. The blended learning course attended by the Pakistani Teacher-educators is part of an international project between Europe and Asia. The analysis is carried out using written traces in the online platform; 47 questionnaires at the end of the face-to-face training sessions in Pakistan and 10 deep-interviews with Pakistani educators; the written traces, open questions, and deep-interviews were qualitatively analyzed. Additionally, the educators' technological, pedagogical and instructional design and interpersonal and intercultural skills were also analysed. The paper considers how international learning could affect the professional learning of teacher-educators in Global South and the centrality of the design of innovative learning courses for today's environment of international globalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an overview of information literacy (IL) developments and reviews related research in Pakistan. Although there is sizeable literature on IL worldwide but that reported from Pakistan is very limited. The academic insituations do not make any provisions for imparting IL training in their curriculum. The IL instruction offered, to a large extent, is at the stage of infacny which does not succeed in achieving the basic goal of developing students' IL self-efficacy. Library orientation is the most popular which incorporates some searching techniques. The involvement of faculty and management in IL instruction is almost non-existant. Lack of IL policy, lack of training opportunities, poor liaison between librarians and faculty, lack of awareness about the importance of IL instruction by the management, faculty and students were the primary impediments for developing and implementing it. This review overwhelmingly indicates a critical need for a comprehensive, large scale, and nationwide examination of students' IL skills and information anxieties in Pakistan. It is proposed that Higher Education Commission should take initiative for developing a national IL programme for all educational institutions in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emphasis on STEM education has gained the attention of activists to promote gender equality in the education field in the last few years. The objectives of the present research paper are: Why is there a need to address gender inequalities in STEM education in Pakistan? The second objective of the research is to highlight the obstacles that restrict women's access to STEM education in Pakistan. This research is qualitative in nature and based on the interviews of students enrolled in the faculty of humanities at the BS level in AIOU. Research gives directions to policymakers on how to increase women's enrollment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to explore the causes of corporal punishment in schools and its effects on students' motivational level, their class participation and attendance in schools. The research also unveiled the perspectives of teachers about corporeal punishment as an instrument to discipline students. The data for this paper was collected through a mix method approach. A survey was conducted among students selected from six schools in District Rawalpindi and Rawat in Pakistan. Qualitative interviews were conducted with selected teachers from the same schools. The findings of the paper highlight that the majority of the students reported to have experienced corporal punishment at schools. From the teachers perspective large class size, non academic activities, poor school infrastructure, low availability of teaching tools, high teaching workloads were reported to be some of the reasons that led to corporeal punishment. The value of Chi-Square shows significant association between corporal punishment and school attendance as well as class participation at 5% level of significance. This paper concludes that corporal punishment has serious implications on students' behavior. In the light of the findings it is recommended that the issue needs serious attention from all stakeholders including school administration and teachers. Importantly, to reduce corporeal punishment we need to work on teachers so that their perceptions about corporeal punishment and its effects on students can be changed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper engages with the critical debate of the impact of languages in education, in private and government schools, in Pakistan, on participants' opportunities to construct social capital, an important dimension of intergenerational, relative poverty. The data from in-depth interviews of 32 participants, (secondary school final-year students and their same sex 5-6 years older siblings), reveal the growing significance of English, through the interplay of the language policy and languages in education in Pakistan, leading to hegemonic ideologies that constrict the opportunities for the government school participants to acquire the kind of social capital that may address social stratification and inequality. The paper offers insights into the nature of language-education and development relationship. With the use of Bourdieu's social critical theory, the paper captures the processes by which languages in education become implicated in restricting the social capital of the relatively poor. Findings revealed that the languages in education, within the current language policy transformed through mutual cognition and intersubjectivity into symbolic capital. This set off processes which constrict the social capital of the government school participants, creating social stratification, affecting collective agency and restricting opportunities for advancement for the disadvantaged despite their education. The paper argues that the question of language in education must be conceptualized with reference to the national language policy and seen in terms of its implications for development and inequality. This is because the trajectory of education into reduction of inequality, though widely emphasized, is not unproblematic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to highlight the importance of most imperative and serious concern of intellectual property rights in academic world of Pakistan. This paper is highlights the status of intellectual property rights in context of constitution of Pakistan. It's also investigated the awareness of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) among faculty in the universities. This paper has investigated the Need of Intellectual Property Rights in Education of Pakistan: Review of Constitution, Current status and Expectations. The major focus of the study is to examine the constitution of Pakistan and investigate the perspective of university faculty regarding IPR. It was descriptive research and content analysis method is used. This qualitative research reviews the constitution of Pakistan and highlights the codes of intellectual property rights. Furthermore the data was collected with informal interview from faculty of federal universities. After the review it was found that awareness is much needed to improve framework on Intellectual Property Protection. Especially IPR condition and work with law and HEC is needed for better identification, planning, commercialization, representation, for protection of invention or creativity. As a Muslim I want to quoted, the moral basis for protection of Intellectual Property finds its mention in the Holy Quran: "Do not usurp one another's property by unjust means, nor bribe with it the judges in order that you may knowingly and wrongfully deprive others of a part of their possessions". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper was to conduct a bibliometric evaluation of Pakistan Library and Information Science Journal (PLISJ)Ixom 2008 to 2017. The data of articles published in PLISJ in the specific period regarding research topics, authorship pattern, gender-wise distribution, geographical and institutional affiliation were collected and analyzed by using the Microsoft Excel spread sheet. Editorials, book reviews and letters to editor were excluded. There were 369 articles in both English and Urdu Languages. Majority of authors were male and single author trend was dominant. The contributors from Punjab and Sindh provinces were higher than other provinces. Bibliographic studies, Information Resources &Services; Interview of (Library and Information Science) LIS Professional and Library & Information Science Education were the preferred area of research. The research contributions from authors affiliated to the University of the Punjab Lahore was first, followed by the Islamia University of Bahawalpur and the University of Karachi. PLISJ needs to publish articles on emerging trends in LIS and articles should be peer reviewed to improve the quality of research papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Several studies have provided empirical evidence that female labor force participation rate exhibits a U-shape during the process of economic development. The purpose of this paper is to explore the existence of U-shape relationship in the case of Pakistan and if it does exist, what factors determine this U-shape relationship? Design/methodology/approach - For the estimation purpose data according to provinces and regions are pooled for three years. The model is estimated using a simple fixed effect test. Findings - The results affirm the existence of U-shaped relationship. Estimation of the pooled data attributed this U-shape relationship with female education attainment, sectoral employment share, unemployment rate, wages and marital status. Results confirm that high rate of economic development is encouraging the female participation in the labor force by increasing the work opportunities for females. The females are taking full advantage of these increased opportunities by increasing their level of education attainment. Research limitations/implications - In testing the U-shape hypothesis, household expenditure on fuel consumption representing level of economic development in the country is used as the data on GDP are not available at the provincial level. Practical implications - This paper recommends that skill-based education programmes should be promoted so that females could be absorbed in the formal labor market. It also recommends measures to decrease unemployment rates and improve labor market conditions. Originality/value - The paper is first of its kind as it applied pooled data technique for the estimation of U-shape relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan's disempowerment of women and neglect of women's rights is not just a social injustice but represents a security risk in an education system which fails to build the resilience required for women to stand up to intimidation from radical religious and terrorist groups. Women in Pakistan are educated to be disempowered by the cultural norms of the society. The ordinary women of Pakistan have no rights to make either political or family decisions. Their only duty is to follow the will of the male members of the family. According to the Madrasah education system of Pakistan, women lack reason and, therefore, they cannot take an active part in the political and family decision-making processes. This paper will use the Feminist Securitization Theory to explore the causes of women's disempowerment in Pakistan. This study draws on semi-structured interviews conducted with women in the three Pakistani cities in Islamabad, Swat, and Peshawar to examine the reasons for the disempowerment of women. The sample population was drawn from the Madrasah education system, including university students and teachers. This paper discusses the status of women in Islam under civil and military rule and finds that the failure of the Government of Pakistan to address women's disempowerment has implications for society and security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the ways in which experiences with return migration are intertwined with considerations about education. How is education a part of returnees' stories about return to Pakistan, and what are the implications that can be drawn to better understand return mobilities and transnational living? While the academic discussion of education in relation to migration has been pre-occupied with integration concerns, bringing together literatures on transnational parenting, return migration, and integration, with the intersecting theme of education, provides valuable synergies. The paper draws on 21 semi-structured interviews with returnees from Norway in Pakistani Punjab and focus groups with returnees from Europe and with non-migrants in returnee-areas in Pakistan. We argue that education is one of a few reoccurring issues that return migrants mention as a motivation for returning, alongside various family considerations. For many returnees, education is as much about the cultural Pakistani, or religious Islamic dimensions, as it is about purely academic objectives. Seven different ways in which education and return migration are intertwined are identified and discussed. The paper shows the ways in which education and mobility choices are closely connected, for a particular sub-group of Pakistani migrants' who over their lifespan lead transnational lives. © 2015 The Authors. Population, Space and Place published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents and evaluates a teacher training approach called the cluster-based mentoring programme (CBMP) for the professional development of government primary school teachers in Pakistan. The study sought to find differences in the teaching practices between districts where the CBMP was used (intervention) and control districts where it was not used (non-intervention). Data were analysed to examine the effectiveness of the CBMP in terms of enhancing teacher practices and student behaviour. The paper differentiates those aspects of classroom teaching where the CBMP has been the most effective and where it has been marginally effective or not effective at all, thus leading to concrete policy lessons for teacher education programmes in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses various papers published within the issue including one on the White Paper on education in Pakistan and another on the promotion of knowledge economy in Wales.

Using household surveys for 2008 and 2011, a multidimensional destitution measure is constructed for Pakistan's most populated province – Punjab. Using a non-monetary framework for dimensions of health, education and standard of living, the study paints a temporal picture of the extremely impoverished households in districts and towns, while highlighting the impact of the destructive 2010 floods. Results reveal the existence of pervasive destitution, with half of the multidimensionally poor households also identified as destitute. Destitution is higher for rural as compared to urban households, while the geography of destitution highlights its concentration in south-west Punjab, providing insights for targeted interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Pakistan, whether to enforce a 4-year BDS course versus a 5-year course, is a matter of debate that warrants multiple deliberations. In USA and Canada, dentistry is 4-year long course but students can apply for admission into dental school only when they have already done 16 years of schooling (i.e. a 4-years of graduate university education is the pre-requisite). On the other hand, In UK & Ireland, students can apply for admission into dental colleges with 12-years of high school education. However, they follow a 5-years BDS programme. Similarly, there is much difference on the emphasis on various subjects taught in the dental programmes. This paper critically appraises the PMDC and HEC advised BDS curricula in Pakistan and suggests an alternative curriculum that is more balanced in terms of subject distribution, assessment and above all contemporary to cater the evolving needs of the dynamic discipline of dentistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a detail overview of technology enhanced learning implementation vis a vis ITC business opportunities for shake hand in (FATA) Pakistan. An effort has been made to use technology enhanced learning in FATA Pakistan for provision of quality and affordable education to male and female (equally) students of higher education, in a view to eliminate gender discrimination. At the same time business opportunities have been explored and identified in information and telecommunication technology sector, analysis of the opportunity and identification of the vacuum available in telecomm sector for good return on investment (ROI). For this purpose SWOT analysis and a test, pilot project has been carried out in village Bagan of lower Kurram Agency FATA Pakistan, to calculate the potential of opportunities in the area and acceptance of technology enhance learning in hostile local unfriendly education culture and traditional environment. For which E-learning Facilitation Centre (EFC) has been established and ICT tools have been used to communicate, learn and access to quality, affordable educational contents. Various e-learning aids and e-learning framework have been developed to fulfil the requirement of local students of FATA. The paper identified number of limitation with regards to social, cultural and economic aspects. The limitation approaches through effective technology enhance learning tools for the desirable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani Siddiqui (1926-2003) who did not believe in separating religion from politics joined active politics in 1970. His journey from passive to active politics was gradual. Though he started taking part in politics by establishing 'National Guards' in 1940's to further the cause of All India Muslim League of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the Indian Sub-continent, However, soon after the partition, following the footsteps of his father Maulana Shah Abdul Aleem Saddiqui (1892-1955), Maulana Noorani concentrated more on the missionary activities. Along with this he also participated in the Anti-Qadiani Movement in 1953 and later elected as the senior vice president of the Jamiat-i- Ulema-i- Pakistan (JUP) West Pakistan in 1955.After the death of his father in the same year Maulana Noorani took full charge of his father's missionary work abroad (1955-1969) and remained fully committed to it. During this time period he remained unknown in Pakistani politics until, in 1970, he presided over a historical meeting of the leading Ulama and Masha'ikh of Ahl-i-Sunnat wa Jammat held in Darul ulum Hizb-ul-Ahnaf Lahore, which resulted in the unification of various groups of the JUP and gave birth to a 'united' political party of Ahl-i Sunnat. This paper had presented a critical review of Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani's early political career, showing that how he roused from the office bearer JUP Karachi to the position of JUP parliamentary leader and one of the leading political figures of the country. The paper also focused on his role in the victory of his party in 1970 election, strong opposition of socialism, propagation of Nizam-i-Mustafa, democracy and efforts to keep the country united. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents an overview of Iqbal's philosophy and its application to educational process. His philosophy has tremendous significance not only for Pakistan educational system, but for the entire world. The nucleus of Iqbal's philosophy on which the whole educational process builds, is the concept of self-identity (khudi) that strengthens the individual's innate powers to realize his full potentials towards goodness. His theory of education is subordinated to his fundamental philosophical thought rooted in Islam that (i) ultimate reality is Allah (swt); (ii) ultimate source of knowledge is revelation (wahi); and (iii) ultimate value is unconditional surrender before the will of Allah (swt). As the paper is aimed to provide only some glimpses of Iqbal's educational thought in an outline form, it warrants a comprehensive and detailed study on the reconstruction of educational thought in the context of Iqbalian philosophy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parentage is the most sacred relation in Islam. The religion Islam assigns various duties to parents to be fulfilled, which are the due rights of their children. Like other duties, a most important duty is educating children. When a child reaches to the age of understanding and learning, then parents need to provide education and knowledge to grow his/her intellectual abilities that empower the child to identify and learn about how to deal with the different aspects of life. Education elucidates to children the purpose of Divine plan of creation. The Islamic Sharia offers equal opportunities of education to both male and female. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "seeking of knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim male and female". As acquiring knowledge is an essential religious duty in Islam therefore any carelessness in fulfilling this duty means compromising their responsibility. Many parents in Pakistan are failed to fulfill this duty therefore a huge number of students remained uneducated. This paper is an attempt to know about the duties of parents regarding educating their children, and critically analyze the present scenario in Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Border conflict is the product of aggression between the nations. Borders are not just physical barriers, but also psychological barriers between the neighboring countries. The Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is experiencing hostility and displacement since independence of India and Pakistan in 1947. The uncertainty continues, especially for the villages close to the border where incidences of firing are quite frequent. During conflict in border areas, the rights of a children i.e. the right to life, the right to education, the right to be with family and community, the right to health and the right to be nurtured and protected are severely violated and compromised. This paper aims to understand the impact of border conflict on the education of children in the Jammu region. This study adopted qualitative method in which, thirty children living in the bordering villages, of the age group between 10-14 years were interviewed. Phenomenological analysis is used to explore the lived experiences of the children. The findings of the study described the impact of border conflict under four sections viz. (a) disturbed school functioning and student hood; (b) frequent dislocation due to intense concern for security; (c) multiple impediments in sustaining education during conflict; and (d) tangled aspirations and hope for future among the children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there are many studies exploring the phenomenon of lecturers’ use of learning technology within teaching practices in western higher education contexts, currently we know little about this phenomenon within less developed countries. In the paper, we discuss the findings from a phenomenographic study of lecturers’ conceptions of using learning technology in a Pakistani university context. We describe how lecturers’ use of learning technology is underpinned by their pedagogical understanding. Furthermore, we show that prevailing contextual socio-economic and technological limitations affect lecturers’ daily pedagogical practices and use of learning technology. The results of the study demonstrate the importance and influence of lecturers’ pedagogical understandings and of contextual limitations within daily teaching practices on their experiences of using learning technology. The findings have wider implications for our understanding of the variation in ways learning technology is understood and used within pedagogical practice in other developing and more developed contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This discussion paper aims to highlight the existing scenario of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for the economic growth in Pakistan. It specifically analysis the status of vocational training, related policies and practices with reference to the 18th Amendment, which abolishes the concurrent list and grants more provincial autonomy in the matters of education. Article 25A of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (iv) states that the provinces should set priorities for access and quality education based on the provincial needs and develop action plans for its actualization. A developing country like Pakistan needs to devise a systematic, well thought and sophisticated policy for TVET; therefore, this paper proposes a policy following the simple framework of input, process and output. The inputs are predominantly focused on highlighting and matching demand and supply of the TVET. The process thoroughly discusses both the formal and informal education arrangements. Finally, the outputs are deliberated in the form of economic effects such as the manpower structures, technological development, manpower quality and economic behavior leading to the ultimate goal of economic growth and development of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of different educational systems around the world at macro and micro level inform us that efforts made to bring reforms and improve quality of education is fundamentally linked with the quality of its teachers. Pakistani system of education is no exception therefore to improve the quality of education attention should be paid to the quality of our teachers. In this era of rapid global changes education is highly subjected to these changes, at the same time it is also the cause of change in all other spheres of life. In comparison with world's top performing educational systems we find Pakistani educational system far behind in quality and students' performance. Although efforts are made to improve the current situation but in general the situation has hardly improved. No doubt extensive, consistence and tested models of teachers' professional development can produce better result, but replication of such models would be difficult in Pakistan where resources allocated for education are comparatively limited. This paper also highlights very concisely the future needs of teachers' professional development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan) to make our public education compatible and enhance students' learning. This paper also suggest the integrated role of state, society and teachers' community to make sincere, serious and systematic efforts to improve the existing situation and shoulder the future needs of teachers professional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study evaluates the local and global trends of education policy in Pakistan. This critical analysis revolves around the framework of all the policies, implemented in Pakistan. The focus on the current education policy development process, which was initiated by the Pakistan Ministry of Education in 2005 and which culminated into a White Paper on education in 2007 and a subsequent education policy in September 2009. The research suggests the dire need to bring reformations in the policies and to integrate global policies into local context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper is part of a doctoral research which aimed at proposing a national information system for educational administrators in Pakistan. However, this paper only aims at identifying what an information system is composed of and does; defining the information infrastructure (i.e. libraries/information centers and networks) needed for the development of a national educational information system; identifying the nature and design of the information infrastructure in Pakistan; and ascertaining the problems and gaps existing in the information infrastructure of Pakistan and why they exist. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on review of the available literature. For the literature search, valid sources of published and unpublished information were consulted (i.e. books, journal articles, reports, conference/workshop proceedings, theses and dissertations). Findings – Many library/information centers and information networks are working in the educational domain of Pakistan. The position of academic, national and special libraries is also presented in this review. The basic weakness traced in this review is in the infrastructure of library/information centers and information networks and disintegration of available information sources. The information does exist within libraries/information centers and information networks but the educational administrators have problems in tracing this information. As a result, available information is not being utilized properly in educational planning and development in Pakistan. There is a need to pool the existing information sources, services and networks in one place to form a well-integrated information system that may provide a holistic and complete overview of education enterprise for realistic planning and resource allocation. Originality/value – This paper is the first to present the current position of the available libraries/information centers and information networks within the educational domain of Pakistan. Such a review may help the designers of educational information systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates some of the economic outcomes of education in Pakistan with a view to understanding if education can act as a vehicle for labour market success. Data from a purpose-designed survey of more than 1000 households in Pakistan are utilised. Earnings functions are estimated for agricultural workers, the self-employed and wage earners to estimate the returns to the ‘quantity’ and the ‘quality’ of schooling in different occupations, by gender. The paper also estimates the returns to knowing ‘English’ in the Pakistani labour market separately for men and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the youth labour market activities in Pakistan. Based on micro data of Labour Force Survey (2006-07), the strength of analysis presented in the paper is twofold. First, it highlights some issues of youth in labour market, their attitude towards work and education in Pakistan and second, the econometric analysis investigates the supply side determinants of youth activities in Pakistan. Our descriptive analysis shows that a substantial percentage of youth is neither in labour force nor enrolled as student which shows the wastage of human resources in the society. Moreover, higher unemployment among educated youth, poor level of education and skills, predominance of informal economy are some of the major issues of youth labour market in Pakistan. Results of multinomial logit model show that being a female reduces the chances of full time work and full time students in Pakistan. In general, young people with educated parents are more likely to enroll in education, while those whose parents are working in agriculture or informal sector are more likely to be full time workers. Similarly, responsibilities within household as a head or having more number of siblings also increase the economic participation of youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to analyze the demand side determinants of schooling of Pakistani urban children and the factors affecting boys and girls' schooling separately. Design/methodology/approach - This is an empirical study using the non-linear maximum likelihood probability (probit) function on primary data. Findings - Besides other variables it has been observed that the poverty remains an important determinant of school participation. Poor households keep their children out of school due to their inability to afford the cost of schooling. Research limitations/implications - On the basis of this study a socio-economic policy can be formulated for a developing country like Pakistan. Practical implications - A development policy can be formulated on the basis of this research for the enhancement of human resource development for a developing and an orthodox economy like Pakistan. Originality/value - The paper is beneficial to the researchers, policy makers, and social scientists for the enhancement of the level of social welfare through its findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent and the effect of socio-economic and demographic factors that lead to the phenomenon of child labor in the fishing sector of Balochistan (province of Pakistan). Design/methodology/approach - In order to explore the objectives, the paper first develops simple hypothesis followed by descriptive and regression analysis. Findings - The findings of the paper show that in the coastal areas about 30 percent of the children are involved in fishing. It is observed that the main cause of child labor is not poverty it comes out to be low quality of education, lack of job opportunity, and lack of development. Research limitations/implications - The data used for the assessment cover wide-spread coastal areas but still have some limitation for several reasons. First, it is rapid assessment done to gain the first hand knowledge about the extent of child labor and their socio-economic culture they belong too. Second, the official data do not include information on education and employment facilities in these towns. Thus, severity may not be truly reflected. Practical implications - Education with training needed to improve fishing skill may help in this regard. The state of education also needs improvement as high illiteracy and dropout rates reflect inadequacy. Originality/value - Extent of child labor in these towns is not reported by any official statistics. This paper attempts to provide the picture of the severity of the problems and its probable causes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is about the supervision of school libraries in the world. Special emphasis is given to the mechanism of supervision and support in both private and government schools. An endeavor has been made to review the literature related to school library supervision. The scope of the study is to analyze the concerned articles, theses, seminar proceedings and reports. The research will be beneficial for the authorities and supervisors who wants to improve their school libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper identifies the issues of internal orientalism that are reproduced at a micro level within Pakistan because of English linguistic imperialism. The unequal education system engenders attitudes of English supremacy. Orientalism supports global divisions East and West wherein the former is subservient to the latter. This division is reproduced domestically in Pakistan where English acquisition remains a preserve of few, who tend to exploit and ostracise (from privileges) others. To identify the corresponding elements of imperialism, I study both repressive and ideological state apparatuses by examining government reports during military regimes for the former and the advertisements of elite schools for the latter. Both apparatuses play a significant role in promoting English supremacy ideology. With Louis Althusser, I examine this ideology focusing on two Ideological State Apparatuses, i.e. education – elite schools (both private and public), and media – school advertisements. This research argues that English plays a significant role in the perpetuation of imperialism in postcolonial Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is an inevitable issue of modern world. Women often face greater risk and share greater burden due to their limited adaptive capacity. Studies suggest that knowledge and education can result in better resilience and sustainable development. Climate change education encourages changes in attitude and behavior that leads to better adaptability to climate changes. This paper aims to explore the local women's understanding of climate change education and policy initiatives taken in rural areas. A qualitative exploratory study was chosen for this study. The data collection methodology was through qualitative process. 20 women participants from rural areas of Sindh were interviewed. The finding reveled that women in rural area of Sindh have very low understanding and knowledge of any climate change educational program conducted in their regions. The lack of awareness regarding any climate change policy initiatives was also observed. This lack of awareness was attributed to their low literacy rate, lack of gender inclusiveness and cultural barriers and hindrances. The understanding of these factors at all level of policy making is key for successful climate change education policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In line with the Education For All (EFA), education is an absolute right to all the children in this world. UNICEF as one of the United Nations body provides humanitarian and development programme to children around the world, including promoting education for girls and ensuring at least to complete their primary education. The struggle for children educational development involves the role of the media and is an important issue among administrators and politicians. However, unknowingly sources from the genre of literature, especially autobiographical works can stimulate interest and even preserve education for children. In Literature, the study of figures in the autobiographical works can be an effective medium to cultivate good values to the children. Hence, this paper attempts to explain how the genre of autobiography as one the varieties from the literary works can be used as a new platform in the revolution of children education. This discussion explores how a Children's Figure Malala Yousafzai from Mingora, a small town in Pakistan; in her autobiography I Am Malala fight for children girls education in Pakistan. In 2014, Malala's autobiography has been recognized with the Nobel-Peace Award. Malala's autobiography has inspired the world and triggered world leaders to recognize children education. The story of her struggle depicted in her autobiography I Am Malala has inspired not only Pakistanis but also world leaders in recognizing education for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present Pakistan is facing many challenges like poverty, power crisis, pollution, population explosion, economy crisis etc. However, illiteracy is one of the most important issue and also a determining factor in the stunted growth of democracy in Pakistan. This research paper attempts to find out the correlation between education and democracy, in other words the dynamic relationship that exists between the literacy rate of a country and the establishment of democracy in the country. The core findings of this article are that the ingredient of education is of prime importance and thus, cannot be separated from the recipe of democracy. The developed nations worked out a system that suited their needs, sure they learned via getting experience from experimenting, but the times have changed and in present times the international arena has become more complex and survival has become more complicated, therefore the developing nations cannot afford to experiment, thus education is the shortest route to achieve good governance by practicing democratic norms in true sense. But democracy can flourish and be a success in a society even if the bulk of the masses are not literate because it will gradually teach them the art of citizenship through experience. In case of Pakistan, some reforms need to be done like, change in the education system, promotion of gender equality, investing more on education, need to eradicate sectarianism and religious fanaticism etc. to smoothen the functioning of democracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper identifies and highlights the role and importance of e-learning in the national development of Pakistan. Paper delves on the conceptual framework of e-learning, cardinal aspects of national development, e-learning efficacy in South Asia in general and Pakistan in particular. The role of education in human resource (HR), in the hierarchy of national development has also been explained. After determining the significance of education in HRD, the fundamentals of e-learning have been elaborated and how e-learning can be used to bridge the digital divide and achieve national development. The essay also proffers some recommendations on the adoption of e-learning system in Pakistan. The empirical findings of this study are useful at national level for optimum utilization of e-learning techniques in human resource development programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative paper draws on the notions of capital, habitus and field to explore parental perceptions about education and their children's secondary schooling in Peshawar, Pakistan. The setting for the study is two contrasting but mutually reciprocating urban and rural contexts; using purposive sampling, the data were gathered from parents through interviews and focus group discussions. The paper demonstrates that culture informs and perpetuates parental perceptions about instilling norms and values in children through education. Moreover, it decodes and explicates the common and ordinary language of parents that underpins the metaphorical dimensions of seeing the world and education from a number of visual and physical characteristics and within which education's role as capital, potential and propensity for making a difference to one's life is deeply intertwined and culturally embedded. The gendered dimensions and perspectives have emerged as important predictors in which patriarchal norms and masculinity obscure, curtail and constrain girls and women's education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The right to education is crucial for solving gender inequalities in developing countries. Set against the backdrop of persistent gender disparities starting from primary education level in Pakistan, using capability approach, this article analyses gender inequalities in education in the Punjab province through the effectiveness of the Girls' Stipend Programme (GSP) on girls' educational opportunities using a mixed methods approach. The GSP, aims to increase female enrolment in public schools, and targets families from lower socio-economic backgrounds. The findings show that the GSP has led to short-term impact on girls' increased enrolment in middle schools, although issues of access to education such as physical safety, transition to secondary schools and the quality of schooling needed attention. The parental aspirations for girls' education is high particularly among mothers from lower economic backgrounds and main driver for female education but the larger question of the instrumental role of education in transforming gender inequalities is still pertinent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]