Why Zardari Should Be President! Beena,
I posted this on your ilog.
'Democracy is not trial and error specially when it has come at the heels of violence and assasinations. Pakistan can least efford becoming a lab in such difficult times'

As far as my view goes, thumbs up for Zardari as long as he contradicts the perceptions about himself. So far his conduct leaves a lot to be desired and he has only confirmed his negative perceptions. PAKISTAN KHAPPAY is a good slogan but is it manifested? Events point that he is back to his old ways.

Educational Practices in Private Schools in Pakistan masadi
email me a copy.

Educational Practices in Private Schools in Pakistan masadi
email me a copy.

Educational Practices in Private Schools in Pakistan masadi,
Please give your outline of a good education system, and if I find it appropriate, I will light my candle for you.

Educational Practices in Private Schools in Pakistan Hamidm2,
Would you feel dismayed or happy to know that I am part of the St. Mary's Management now? Sr Eileen is gone cause she made the school too exclusive. Two new camuses are coming up. A brand new nursery. The old primary building came down with the earthquake. So a new one is under construction worth 68 million rupees. The government gave no assistance. A college campus called Ave Maria for undergrad and grad classes has already come up and will be linked to some of the best Catholic Universities of USA.
Due to the retardation caused by 30 years of nationalisation, a fast track school for poor christian boys has already come up called Boys Town. It is run by La Salle Brothers.

Educational Practices in Private Schools in Pakistan Masadi,
I admire you for your grip of knowledge on International Political Economy. I would only like if you remain Value-Nuetral in the real sense and avoid a Sweeping Generalisation akin to a bad theory.

Educational Practices in Private Schools in Pakistan St Mary's Rawalpindi

Educational Practices in Private Schools in Pakistan Tahmed,
No I studied at St. Anthony's Lahore that is far more progressive and inclusive than St. Mary's. It has a reputation of producing great Pakistanis in all walks of life. I was one of the lowly ones.
Hamidm2,
Christians flocked to West. Yes they did but why? The reasons are entirely different.
1. Once Bhutto nationalised most of the schools in the 70s, many of the Christian community teachers suddenly found themselves in very unfamiliar environments. Some though the best, did not fill the government criteria for jobs like Ct, BT. Bed etc. So they felt insecure and migrated.
2. The same happened to some of the hospitals that had a certain corporatism and exclusivity about them. In came the government appointed Mds etc and there they went.
3. Zia Ul Haq aggravated the situation and deprived them of their basic citizen rights like franchise. They left.
4. The net result was that there was more unemployment and lesser education opportunities. Anyone who got a chance left.
5. Nawaz Sharif incorporated the Blasphemy Laws in the most draconian form, that is mostly used against Christians by the fuedal and goonda mindset.

The net result of all this was insecurity, unemployment and exodus. But many still remained around.

You will be surprised to know, in terms of ppopulation ratio, Christians have an overwhelmingly high percentage of top management in the corporate sector.

Hamidm2, just name a few doctors, executives or engineers of Pakistani Christian descent in the newer generation where you live. You will find none. In Pakistan we annually produce more than 20 of them.

Masadi, I do not agree. For the reasons above, I never left Pakistan. My brother who lives in USA became americanised only after 9/11 becuase getting visas for business became very difficult with a GREEN passport.

Educational Practices in Private Schools in Pakistan Masadi,
Amongst my peers, most continue to serve in Pakistan while a few indeed have gone to the west. To begin, three pilots in PIA, a few owner of large businesses anf many working in the government and private sector. Some of the christians migrated to Canada, USA and Australia. These are mostly anglos. By the way, four of them got Pakistan colours in Boxing.

I feel our own system produces more stereotypes than the Cambridge

Educational Practices in Private Schools in Pakistan first u asked me abt St Anthony's, now Ravian. 1971-72.
when were u there?

Educational Practices in Private Schools in Pakistan I hope you know how difficult it is to perform in our system?

Educational Practices in Private Schools in Pakistan Just to connect further:
I was selected by the Pakistan Catholic Academic Council and ratified by Pope John Paul II to make the project architecture and commissioning of the first Catholic University in Pakistan. As I see it, fortunately, we had to spend most of our start up expenses in rehabilitation of Kshmiri orphans. We housed and educated them for three years and this has effected the college project. So we are still stuck at intermediate level and may (big if?)begin undergraduate classes next year. Our admission criteria is built around INCLUSIVENESS ie admissions for most deserving and least privilidged.To make it more attractive, the campus is very well laid out and fully laid out. I am very thankful to Mr. Ashraf of MIA corporation (Acson Airconditioners)for very cheap rates beyond my expectation.
Having said that, most rich parents whose kids score A+ etc are aghast seeing their kids studying with students coming from villages with a B or C Grade. They take their kids out on the pretext that the college does not follow merit. They do not understand inclisivity and the merit system we follow in awading merit to the degree of difficulty faced by a student in a rural school (teachers, labs, ambience etc).
This is the Cross we have to carry and the quest goes on.
Cheerios

Educational Practices in Private Schools in Pakistan akcheema & Masadi,
Since you brought up the subject once again, I find this the correct board for a discussion. I will discuss it in the background of your own educational experience and efcourse my own.

Though at an advanced stage, I did do professional education in France, all my education is Pakistan based. Though I had Phd and fellowships offered to me in USAs best institutions,I declined because I did not wish to become the fodder for the US Think Tank system like so many other Pakistanis who harm their own country by becoming psuedo experts. For me it was better to stay here and effect a change.

I am a product of a Convent KG1-2) A Village type Tat School upto Primary and then O/A level System of Cambridge. Being a Ravian, I also had experience of the Pakistani system. Studying at Qaid e Azam University was a good experience that depended on the quality of the teachers. Men like Tariq Rehman teaching Research Methodology and Languages were a breed apart. They forced us into inquest. Most others were just cram masters. So it was up to the student to pick up the level he wanted to achieve and I tell you it was very difficult. At times, it was frusterating deviationg from the script.

By worldly standards, God bestowed me with a fair amount of succes. But I must admit that it is basically my Cambridge experience that has got me through. Just to allude to an assertion, our urdu level syllabus called Johar Parey printed by Ferozesons was much tougher than the FSc Urdu. No one was then allowed to pick up Urdu B. It was but obvious that I made my kids follow the same route.

I disagree with masadi that this education is meant to produce slavish out puts. The syllabus is universal and not in any way designed to produce stereoypes. My only observation is that Urdu B should be confined only to students who have english as a mother language. This is a policy decision to be made by our government and not the education boards abroad.

Why a brain drain on A Level students? First, most do not do well in the rata based entry tests. Second, our higher education system based on Precis, notes and ratta vomit them out. Third, most lectureres look upon them as Burger Stuff, immoral and a generation lost. My own daughter became a victim of this treatment in NUST despite being an international topper in A Levels. Her class fellow in school and iniversity met the same treatment. As a reaction and realisation, he also did a parallel BSC from a local college and then enrolled for MSc Physics in Qaid e Azam University. So by the time he finished his engineering, Pervez Hoodboy had guided him into getting a Gold Medal in MSc Physics too. Pathetically, the NUST saw him as useless & generation lost. He just scored a GPA around 2. Now, barely 25, he is already a PhD from USA with top homnurs.

Give some incisive thought please.

Cheerios

Musharraf\'s Resignation and Beyond tahmed,
We inbred and resident Pakistanis live in interesting times day in and day out.
'Rule of Law' is a very good political slogan and cliche. Considering the ground realities, the Rule of Law in the truest sense has laways been violated and exploited. In a country, where ruling elites do not hesitate to construe religion for political ends, what better do you expect........ In a country whose leaders can sacrifice national interests for their personal benefits, what else do you expect........ In a country where power elites are ready to sell their fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers without any moral limitation, what else do you expect.

We as citizens wish for the Rule of Law. We can only try which we do. We cannot force it down the throat of an establishment that has other motives and linkages.

Musharraf\'s Resignation and Beyond Tahmed,
You are again firing at me from the hip.
As for the Rule of Law under Zardari?
Unfortunately, I see many more Unnars, Twin city Scams etc to happen.
I just pray and hope that Preservation of Punjab Base does not add to the woes in this regard.
Bye for now.

Musharraf\'s Resignation and Beyond an interesting debate.will join in three hours.