Islamabad: The Parliamentary Secretary of Federal Education and Professional Training, National Heritage and Culture Farah Naz Akbar on Friday to the National Assembly that the Cambridge education system was being introduced in the universities administered by the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).
During the time of the question, he said that the initiative was launching as a pilot project in four government institutions and will be expanded to other institutions in phases.
He added that the plan was currently in its initial stages, with some educational institutions selected under the FDE established to implement the first system.
The parliamentary secretary answered the questions of MNA Sehar Kamran that wanted to know if the Government would guarantee equitable access to this system to disadvantaged background students.
Farah Naz Akbar explained that the system was being presented at the request of parents who could not pay rates in private schools. She said the system would be introduced from grade 6 in April.
She explained that students would only be charged when the levels that only half of the amount would also reach.
MNA Dr. Nafisa Shah raised concerns about equity in education, questioning the need to introduce the Cambridge system. “If our educational system is strong, why do we send valuable currencies abroad?” She asked.
She asked about the currencies spent by the country’s elite in Cambridge and similar educational systems, as well as the amounts that students pay for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Dr. Nafisa Shah argued that adopting Cambridge undermines Pakistan’s own educational framework.
Meanwhile, Farah Naz said he will come home with more information in this regard.
Posted in Dawn, February 15, 2025
