The educational policy of 1969 in Pakistan aimed to unify the separate madrassah and public school systems through integration. It recommended Urdu be the medium of instruction in West Pakistan and Bengali in East Pakistan. The policy proposed increasing student and teacher involvement in education affairs and establishing organizations like the National Literacy Corps and University Grants Commission. However, ongoing political turmoil prevented implementation of the policy and the new government in 1971 introduced a new education policy for 1972-1980.

1. EDUCATIONAL POLICY
1969
Instructor Name: Farheen
Malik

2. Educational policy 1969
In December 1966 the second Martial Law was
imposed by General Yahya Khan.
The country remained in a state of political crisis for
about three years.
Elections were held under the Martial Law regime in
1970, but the results were not accepted and
government was not handed over to the party which
had a sweeping majority in the East Wing but did not
contest for even a single seat in the West Wing.

3. War broke out in 1971 and East Pakistan was
dismembered.
In West Pakistan the government was handed over to
the second majority party of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in
1971.
During this intervening period, the Martial Law
government set up a number of study groups to
formulate a new education policy.

4. Contd.
These study groups consulted with parents, teachers and
other cross-sections of society and drafted a policy which
offered a variety of proposals.
The deliberations of the policy were announced in July
1969.
Keeping in view the political turmoil in the country, the
policy aimed to use education as a force of national
unification and recommended the integration of the two
separate education systems, madrassahs and
contemporary public schools, which were operating side
by side.

5. Contd.
The medium of instruction was also suggested to be
Bengali in East Pakistan and Urdu in West Pakistan.
It also called for more involvement of the students and
teachers in the affairs of education and establishment of
National Literacy Corps, a University Grants
Commission, changes in the University Ordinance and in
the functioning and management of private institutions,
removing the disparity between rural and urban education
and making the education system more functional in terms
of its contribution to productivity and economic growth.

6. Contd.
The decentralization of educational institutions was
also outlined for the better administration.
The announcement of policy coincided with the
political instability in the country.
Political turmoil in the country even did not allow the
implementation of the Fourth Five-year Plan (1970-
75).

7. Contd.
The policy also recommended attaching high priority
to the development of analytical and technical skills to
overcome unemployment issue in educated class.
Thus, the policy was abandoned and a new policy was
evolved; the Education Policy1972-80 by the new
government whilst the proposals of the previous policy
became the basis of the new education policy.
The education sector had made a substantial
development since independence with the main
emphasis on quantitative expansion.

8. Contd.
From 8413 primary schools, 2190 middle schools and
406 secondary schools in the areas now comprising
Pakistan, the education sector expanded to 41290
primary schools,5745 secondary schools and 290
colleges and 7 universities by the end of 1970s.
Most of this expansion took place under five year
development plans.
The First Five Year Plan (1955-1960) was developed
in the framework of First National Educational
Conference 1947

9. Contd.
Ambitious targets were set to expand the system of
education and to improve its quality. However, only
2400 new primary schools were opened in West
Pakistan against the target of 4000 schools.
Similarly, the anticipated rate of enrolment at primary
level was not achieved.

10. Contd.
The progress at secondary school level was
appreciably higher as the number of newly established
secondary schools and its enrolment rate was higher
than that was anticipated.
Out of total 581 million allocated to education, only
400 million i.e. 69% of the proposed allocation was
spent on education.

11. Contd.
Under the first five year plan, the focus was on
secondary education and colleges and universities.
Under second five year plan, the focus shifted away
from primary and secondary education to the technical
education as well as the colleges and the universities.
Under the third five year plan, focus was shifted to
secondary education and continual support for
technical education.

12. Contd.
The financial allocation for education sector made
under the Third Five Year Plan (1965-1970)was 2.5
times of the second plan. However, out of 2374.55
million, only 1328.322 million,
i.e. 56% of the actual allocation was spent on
education.
In East Pakistan 70% and 125% targets of enrolment
at primary and middle stage level were achieved
respectively, while in West Pakistan the target achieved
was 37% and 50% respectively.
The achievement targets of enrolment at secondary
and higher secondary level was 100%and 60% in East
and West Pakistan respectively.

13. .
The achievement targets of enrolment at secondary
and higher secondary level was 100%and 60% in East
and West Pakistan respectively.
Hence, like second plan, more expansion was
achieved at secondary and higher secondary level as
compared to the primary level.

14. Contd.
As a result, the overall performance of the educational
development was not satisfactory, particularly in the
West Pakistan. Moreover, the war of 1971 led to the
dismemberment of East Pakistan.
This state of affairs led to the need to re-orient the
education system in the areas now called Pakistan in
accordance with the challenges and demands of the
age.