The document summarizes the proceedings and recommendations of Pakistan's first National Education Conference held in 1947 after independence. The conference aimed to address the lack of education in the newly formed state, where 85% of the population was illiterate. Key recommendations included establishing vocational and technical education, compulsory primary education, emphasizing science and technology, and aligning the education system with Islamic values. However, the conference failed to develop a comprehensive education plan and neglected areas like female education and realistic adult literacy targets.
2. Pakistan achieved independence from
over a century of British colonial rule in
August 1947.
The progress in education was largely
limited to what emerged as India.
The regions comprising Pakistan were
relatively backward in all respects,
including in education.
3. At independence, 85 percent of the
population was illiterate.
In the more backward regions of the
country, e.g., Baluchistan, the literacy
rate was even lower.
It was realized that the task of nation
building would not be achieved without
an educated and skilled manpower.
Therefore a National Education
Conference was coducted, which
presented their recommendations.
5. Technical and Vocational
Education
Establishment of Advisory
Board of Education
Establishment of Inter-
Universal Board
Promotion of Scientific
Research
Establishment of Overseas
Scholarship Scheme
The Problem of Medium of
Instruction
Integration of moral,
social and vocational
elements in system of
education
Compulsory Primary
Education
Compulsory Physical
Education
Compulsory Military
Training
The problem of
Literacy
Training of Citizenship
7. Education system should suit the genius of
Pakistan
It should be consonant with our history and
culture.
It should empower and strengthen national
integrity.
It should emphasis on science and technology.
8. Education should be termed
with Islamic values
Free and Compulsory Education
in Pakistan
Emphasis on Science and
Technical Education
9. • The first 5 years were to be devoted to
planning, recruitment of teachers and
training. In the sixth year, about 500,000
persons were to be made literate with an
annual increase of 300,000.
• It called on all government departments
and all employers and trade unions to
ensure that their employees, workers, and
members are literate.
10. • The possibility of making a period
of social service obligatory on all
university students.
• The use of mechanical aids to
learning, such as radio, cinema,
and gramophone.
11. The Committee’s report was fairly pragmatic
in its approach.
Identified issues of training adult school
teachers.
Identified issues of teaching materials
and instruction methodologies, etc.
12. It proposed to bring uniform
curriculum and uniform system of
education throughout whole Pakistan.
It advised that students may be
provided technical, commercial or art
education.
13. The Education Conference was the first ever
attempt on streamlining the education system of
the new born state. It was the product the efforts
of politicians and educational experts. However,
the conference failed to reach on a comprehensive
plan for providing quality education for the
country.
Adequate attention was not paid to developing
primary education which requires wide scale
infrastructure and trained staff.
14. Proper attention wasn’t paid to
encouraging female education.
Adult literacy was to take 25 years, which
was not realistic effort.
No proper provisions were made for
Higher, technical, commercial and
vocational education. Only emphasis was
there.
The life span of the plan was very much
extensive. It needed more than a 100 years
to achieve the targets.