I moved to Pakistan six years ago and ever since I moved here people have
ever since I moved here people have
ever since I moved here people have asked me so how long do you think you’re
asked me so how long do you think you’re
asked me so how long do you think you’re gonna stay and I never really understood
gonna stay and I never really understood
gonna stay and I never really understood this question because I don’t have any
this question because I don’t have any
this question because I don’t have any plan to leave and yet and this question
plan to leave and yet and this question
plan to leave and yet and this question people seem to be suggesting that I
people seem to be suggesting that I
people seem to be suggesting that I should leave and this told me that
should leave and this told me that
should leave and this told me that Pakistan is a country that people leave
Pakistan is a country that people leave
Pakistan is a country that people leave and it’s not like other places where you
and it’s not like other places where you
and it’s not like other places where you move and nobody ever you know people
move and nobody ever you know people
move and nobody ever you know people assume that you’re gonna stay but I have
assume that you’re gonna stay but I have
assume that you’re gonna stay but I have loved Pakistan every day that I’ve lived
loved Pakistan every day that I’ve lived
loved Pakistan every day that I’ve lived here six years
here six years
here six years even today I Drive around Islamabad
even today I Drive around Islamabad
even today I Drive around Islamabad which is where I lived and I appreciate
which is where I lived and I appreciate
which is where I lived and I appreciate it but there’s one frustration that I
it but there’s one frustration that I
it but there’s one frustration that I have which is that I’ve always felt like
have which is that I’ve always felt like
have which is that I’ve always felt like I’m behind some kind of a wall when I
I’m behind some kind of a wall when I
I’m behind some kind of a wall when I was younger it was the walls of my
was younger it was the walls of my
was younger it was the walls of my grandmother’s house and we’d visit from
grandmother’s house and we’d visit from
grandmother’s house and we’d visit from the US and grew up in Tennessee and in
the US and grew up in Tennessee and in
the US and grew up in Tennessee and in Florida and I couldn’t really understand
Florida and I couldn’t really understand
Florida and I couldn’t really understand what was going on beyond a lot of
what was going on beyond a lot of
what was going on beyond a lot of violence and a lot of poverty that
violence and a lot of poverty that
violence and a lot of poverty that nobody ever bothered to explain and now
nobody ever bothered to explain and now
nobody ever bothered to explain and now as an adult again I feel like I’ve
as an adult again I feel like I’ve
as an adult again I feel like I’ve entered Islamabad as essentially someone
entered Islamabad as essentially someone
entered Islamabad as essentially someone because of my class cannot really access
because of my class cannot really access
because of my class cannot really access what’s happening in the country and
what’s happening in the country and
what’s happening in the country and because of being in the development
because of being in the development
because of being in the development sector we see a certain version of
sector we see a certain version of
sector we see a certain version of Pakistan and often it’s the version
Pakistan and often it’s the version
Pakistan and often it’s the version that’s presented to us so I left my job
that’s presented to us so I left my job
that’s presented to us so I left my job that moved me to Pakistan a few years
that moved me to Pakistan a few years
that moved me to Pakistan a few years ago and I spent two years trying to
ago and I spent two years trying to
ago and I spent two years trying to figure out how to get more in touch with
figure out how to get more in touch with
figure out how to get more in touch with the country and that landed me at dawn I
the country and that landed me at dawn I
the country and that landed me at dawn I became a journalist and the reason I
became a journalist and the reason I
became a journalist and the reason I became a journalist is because I wanted
became a journalist is because I wanted
became a journalist is because I wanted to investigate what was really happening
to investigate what was really happening
to investigate what was really happening with development money in this country
with development money in this country
with development money in this country because I saw that if I was interested
because I saw that if I was interested
because I saw that if I was interested in development then the corollary was
in development then the corollary was
in development then the corollary was aid so I did my first stories with dawn
aid so I did my first stories with dawn
aid so I did my first stories with dawn they went very well and then my editor
they went very well and then my editor
they went very well and then my editor sat down with me and she said why don’t
sat down with me and she said why don’t
sat down with me and she said why don’t you look into education and I thought
you look into education and I thought
you look into education and I thought well why because everyone knows
well why because everyone knows
well why because everyone knows everything about education and so I
everything about education and so I
everything about education and so I wasn’t really interested in covering the
wasn’t really interested in covering the
wasn’t really interested in covering the topic it’s one of the most over
topic it’s one of the most over
topic it’s one of the most over discussed issues in Pakistan but I did
discussed issues in Pakistan but I did
discussed issues in Pakistan but I did it anyways and I went into it with a
it anyways and I went into it with a
it anyways and I went into it with a hunch because I knew two things one is
hunch because I knew two things one is
hunch because I knew two things one is that people would say that doubling the
that people would say that doubling the
that people would say that doubling the budget is the solution
budget is the solution
budget is the solution to the education crisis in Pakistan but
to the education crisis in Pakistan but
to the education crisis in Pakistan but there were two problems with that
there were two problems with that
there were two problems with that narrative one is that on any given day I
narrative one is that on any given day I
narrative one is that on any given day I knew that one in five teachers does not
knew that one in five teachers does not
knew that one in five teachers does not show up to school and secondly that 80%
show up to school and secondly that 80%
show up to school and secondly that 80% of the budget is going into the salaries
of the budget is going into the salaries
of the budget is going into the salaries for these teachers so I can never
for these teachers so I can never
for these teachers so I can never understand how doubling the budget was
understand how doubling the budget was
understand how doubling the budget was going to solve this crisis it seemed
going to solve this crisis it seemed
going to solve this crisis it seemed like we just needed to spend the money
like we just needed to spend the money
like we just needed to spend the money better so I ended up spending a year
better so I ended up spending a year
better so I ended up spending a year investigating education not because I
investigating education not because I
investigating education not because I needed to but because everything I found
needed to but because everything I found
needed to but because everything I found was a constant surprise and this Stila
was a constant surprise and this Stila
was a constant surprise and this Stila happens to me today when I look at
happens to me today when I look at
happens to me today when I look at education in Pakistan the reality is
education in Pakistan the reality is
education in Pakistan the reality is completely different from what we are
completely different from what we are
completely different from what we are told this is a picture of Michelle Obama
told this is a picture of Michelle Obama
told this is a picture of Michelle Obama and the daughter of the former prime
and the daughter of the former prime
and the daughter of the former prime minister this picture pretty much sums
minister this picture pretty much sums
minister this picture pretty much sums up what we know about education which is
up what we know about education which is
up what we know about education which is that a Pakistan needs to double the
that a Pakistan needs to double the
that a Pakistan needs to double the budget to solve the crisis because what
budget to solve the crisis because what
budget to solve the crisis because what Michelle Obama is saying to the prime
Michelle Obama is saying to the prime
Michelle Obama is saying to the prime minister’s daughter is that if you
minister’s daughter is that if you
minister’s daughter is that if you double the budget I’ll give you 70
double the budget I’ll give you 70
double the budget I’ll give you 70 million dollars in aid for girls
million dollars in aid for girls
million dollars in aid for girls education so the story we have is that
education so the story we have is that
education so the story we have is that boxa needs to double the budget that
boxa needs to double the budget that
boxa needs to double the budget that this will resolve the crisis and that
this will resolve the crisis and that
this will resolve the crisis and that donors are financing the gap the reality
donors are financing the gap the reality
donors are financing the gap the reality is that since 2010 10 Pakistan has more
is that since 2010 10 Pakistan has more
is that since 2010 10 Pakistan has more than doubled the budget for education
than doubled the budget for education
than doubled the budget for education our budget in 2010 was 3.5 billion
our budget in 2010 was 3.5 billion
our budget in 2010 was 3.5 billion dollars today it’s 8.6 more shockingly
dollars today it’s 8.6 more shockingly
dollars today it’s 8.6 more shockingly our education budget is the same almost
our education budget is the same almost
our education budget is the same almost as our defense budget and these numbers
as our defense budget and these numbers
as our defense budget and these numbers are growing for education fast I
are growing for education fast I
are growing for education fast I wouldn’t be surprised if education
wouldn’t be surprised if education
wouldn’t be surprised if education overtakes the official defense budget
overtakes the official defense budget
overtakes the official defense budget pretty soon what we have heard is that
pretty soon what we have heard is that
pretty soon what we have heard is that Pakistan spends 2 percent of its budget
Pakistan spends 2 percent of its budget
Pakistan spends 2 percent of its budget on education this isn’t true and the
on education this isn’t true and the
on education this isn’t true and the reason why you’ve heard this is because
reason why you’ve heard this is because
reason why you’ve heard this is because we all know devolution happened in 2010
we all know devolution happened in 2010
we all know devolution happened in 2010 education became a provincial
education became a provincial
education became a provincial responsibility but nobody counted the
responsibility but nobody counted the
responsibility but nobody counted the provincial budgets when they told you
provincial budgets when they told you
provincial budgets when they told you what Pakistan spends 2% is the federal
what Pakistan spends 2% is the federal
what Pakistan spends 2% is the federal budget if you add the provincial budgets
budget if you add the provincial budgets
budget if you add the provincial budgets which is where the bulk of spending is
which is where the bulk of spending is
which is where the bulk of spending is Pakistan spends 13% of its budget on
Pakistan spends 13% of its budget on
Pakistan spends 13% of its budget on education
education
education the US and the UK spent 14% the global
the US and the UK spent 14% the global
the US and the UK spent 14% the global average is 14% you’ve also heard that
average is 14% you’ve also heard that
average is 14% you’ve also heard that Pakistan spends 2% of its GDP on
Pakistan spends 2% of its GDP on
Pakistan spends 2% of its GDP on education this is partially true it is
education this is partially true it is
education this is partially true it is true that Pakistan spends that much but
true that Pakistan spends that much but
true that Pakistan spends that much but GDP is not a good measure for us because
GDP is not a good measure for us because
GDP is not a good measure for us because we don’t recover enough of our GDP in
we don’t recover enough of our GDP in
we don’t recover enough of our GDP in the form of taxes to translate into
the form of taxes to translate into
the form of taxes to translate into budget our GDP does not become money to
budget our GDP does not become money to
budget our GDP does not become money to spend and this is why a small part of
spend and this is why a small part of
spend and this is why a small part of our GDP is a big part of our budget and
our GDP is a big part of our budget and
our GDP is a big part of our budget and our GDP is growing by five percent every
our GDP is growing by five percent every
our GDP is growing by five percent every year if we keep chasing the growing GDP
year if we keep chasing the growing GDP
year if we keep chasing the growing GDP figure we can easily reach a point where
figure we can easily reach a point where
figure we can easily reach a point where this is just unsustainable in terms of
this is just unsustainable in terms of
this is just unsustainable in terms of our budget and we do after all have
our budget and we do after all have
our budget and we do after all have other priorities and things that
other priorities and things that
other priorities and things that children in schools do need to function
children in schools do need to function
children in schools do need to function like health roads security it’s also a
like health roads security it’s also a
like health roads security it’s also a bad measure because parents spend
bad measure because parents spend
bad measure because parents spend another eight billion dollars on
another eight billion dollars on
another eight billion dollars on education the figures that you’ve seen
education the figures that you’ve seen
education the figures that you’ve seen do not include private spending but in
do not include private spending but in
do not include private spending but in Pakistan we’re an outlier 40 percent of
Pakistan we’re an outlier 40 percent of
Pakistan we’re an outlier 40 percent of our kids are in private schools so how
our kids are in private schools so how
our kids are in private schools so how the government is spending eight point
the government is spending eight point
the government is spending eight point six billion dollars on education parents
six billion dollars on education parents
six billion dollars on education parents spend another eight billion this easily
spend another eight billion this easily
spend another eight billion this easily takes us past the four percent mark in
takes us past the four percent mark in
takes us past the four percent mark in terms of GDP so what have we gone out of
terms of GDP so what have we gone out of
terms of GDP so what have we gone out of this Pakistan has the second highest
this Pakistan has the second highest
this Pakistan has the second highest number of out of school children in the
number of out of school children in the
number of out of school children in the world and so success would mean that we
world and so success would mean that we
world and so success would mean that we bring down the number of kids who are
bring down the number of kids who are
bring down the number of kids who are out of school that we get kids into
out of school that we get kids into
out of school that we get kids into school interestingly since we doubled
school interestingly since we doubled
school interestingly since we doubled our budget the number of kids in school
our budget the number of kids in school
our budget the number of kids in school has stagnated at 57 percent in 2010 we
has stagnated at 57 percent in 2010 we
has stagnated at 57 percent in 2010 we had 57 percent of 5 to 9 year olds in
had 57 percent of 5 to 9 year olds in
had 57 percent of 5 to 9 year olds in school today we still have 57 percent of
school today we still have 57 percent of
school today we still have 57 percent of 5 to 9 year olds in school and what is 2
5 to 9 year olds in school and what is 2
5 to 9 year olds in school and what is 2 percent 2 percent is foreign aid what
percent 2 percent is foreign aid what
percent 2 percent is foreign aid what the US Pakistan has been boxin is today
the US Pakistan has been boxin is today
the US Pakistan has been boxin is today actually the largest recipient of UK aid
actually the largest recipient of UK aid
actually the largest recipient of UK aid in the world the Punjab education
in the world the Punjab education
in the world the Punjab education program is UK’s biggest program in the
program is UK’s biggest program in the
program is UK’s biggest program in the world in recent years we’ve been the
world in recent years we’ve been the
world in recent years we’ve been the second largest recipient of US aid in
second largest recipient of US aid in
second largest recipient of US aid in the world but the money that comes in
the world but the money that comes in
the world but the money that comes in from the US or from the UK at its
from the US or from the UK at its
from the US or from the UK at its largest has equaled only 2 percent
largest has equaled only 2 percent
largest has equaled only 2 percent of what we spend ourselves from our own
of what we spend ourselves from our own
of what we spend ourselves from our own budgets and by the way the World Bank is
budgets and by the way the World Bank is
budgets and by the way the World Bank is a little bigger but those are all loans
a little bigger but those are all loans
a little bigger but those are all loans and those are things that we pay back so
and those are things that we pay back so
and those are things that we pay back so that’s not included so now this picture
that’s not included so now this picture
that’s not included so now this picture doesn’t make a lot of sense anymore
doesn’t make a lot of sense anymore
doesn’t make a lot of sense anymore you see Michelle basically asking Miriam
you see Michelle basically asking Miriam
you see Michelle basically asking Miriam to spend another seven billion dollars
to spend another seven billion dollars
to spend another seven billion dollars on education to double the budget
on education to double the budget
on education to double the budget because that’s what the budget was when
because that’s what the budget was when
because that’s what the budget was when this photo was taken and in return
this photo was taken and in return
this photo was taken and in return she’ll give Pakistan seventy million
she’ll give Pakistan seventy million
she’ll give Pakistan seventy million dollars the resources to solve this
dollars the resources to solve this
dollars the resources to solve this crisis financially are at home so and
crisis financially are at home so and
crisis financially are at home so and this is when I was doing my research
this is when I was doing my research
this is when I was doing my research donors were completely baffled as to
donors were completely baffled as to
donors were completely baffled as to what was going on why is it that we have
what was going on why is it that we have
what was going on why is it that we have instituted reforms we’ve doubled
instituted reforms we’ve doubled
instituted reforms we’ve doubled spending we ourselves have put in so
spending we ourselves have put in so
spending we ourselves have put in so much money and yet we see no change they
much money and yet we see no change they
much money and yet we see no change they called the reforms cutting-edge and they
called the reforms cutting-edge and they
called the reforms cutting-edge and they say that financing has increased but
say that financing has increased but
say that financing has increased but despite a decade of this nothing has
despite a decade of this nothing has
despite a decade of this nothing has changed
changed
changed so donors are baffled and they don’t
so donors are baffled and they don’t
so donors are baffled and they don’t know what’s going on they’ve started to
know what’s going on they’ve started to
know what’s going on they’ve started to figure it out I’d say two years ago but
figure it out I’d say two years ago but
figure it out I’d say two years ago but meanwhile people in this country who go
meanwhile people in this country who go
meanwhile people in this country who go to government schools know exactly what
to government schools know exactly what
to government schools know exactly what is going on I have a columnist sidekick
is going on I have a columnist sidekick
is going on I have a columnist sidekick but he was actually the office boy in my
but he was actually the office boy in my
but he was actually the office boy in my office when I moved to Pakistan and he’s
office when I moved to Pakistan and he’s
office when I moved to Pakistan and he’s kind of become a constant in my life and
kind of become a constant in my life and
kind of become a constant in my life and he’s a friend and he helps me with all
he’s a friend and he helps me with all
he’s a friend and he helps me with all the things that I would do for myself if
the things that I would do for myself if
the things that I would do for myself if I lived in the US and which would make
I lived in the US and which would make
I lived in the US and which would make my life very annoying and when he found
my life very annoying and when he found
my life very annoying and when he found out I was investigating education he
out I was investigating education he
out I was investigating education he said madam you must come to my village
said madam you must come to my village
said madam you must come to my village and see the schools there so I said okay
and see the schools there so I said okay
and see the schools there so I said okay because zephyr has been asking me to
because zephyr has been asking me to
because zephyr has been asking me to come to his village ever since I moved
come to his village ever since I moved
come to his village ever since I moved to Pakistan for six years so I said okay
to Pakistan for six years so I said okay
to Pakistan for six years so I said okay fine let’s get it over with I’ll finally
fine let’s get it over with I’ll finally
fine let’s get it over with I’ll finally come to your village and so we set out
come to your village and so we set out
come to your village and so we set out early one morning from Islamabad for apt
early one morning from Islamabad for apt
early one morning from Islamabad for apt Abad and we were heading for the
Abad and we were heading for the
Abad and we were heading for the mountains and I finally asked him some
mountains and I finally asked him some
mountains and I finally asked him some questions in the car and I asked him sup
questions in the car and I asked him sup
questions in the car and I asked him sup her why are we going to your village and
her why are we going to your village and
her why are we going to your village and he said bus you have to see the schools
he said bus you have to see the schools
he said bus you have to see the schools there and so I was like okay Zafar but
there and so I was like okay Zafar but
there and so I was like okay Zafar but you have schools right and he said the
you have schools right and he said the
you have schools right and he said the most profound thing
most profound thing
most profound thing that anybody said in all of my 50
that anybody said in all of my 50
that anybody said in all of my 50 interviews on education around the
interviews on education around the
interviews on education around the country he said school a hey Darlene the
country he said school a hey Darlene the
country he said school a hey Darlene the hangar we have schools we don’t have
hangar we have schools we don’t have
hangar we have schools we don’t have education so I said okay it’s
education so I said okay it’s
education so I said okay it’s interesting what scene so we went to his
interesting what scene so we went to his
interesting what scene so we went to his village we drove up as far as we could
village we drove up as far as we could
village we drove up as far as we could go and then we hiked for an hour
go and then we hiked for an hour
go and then we hiked for an hour I think locals do it a little faster it
I think locals do it a little faster it
I think locals do it a little faster it took me an hour and this is his village
took me an hour and this is his village
took me an hour and this is his village you can see it’s a small village in the
you can see it’s a small village in the
you can see it’s a small village in the mountains and the schools in his village
mountains and the schools in his village
mountains and the schools in his village are taking place in these kind of
are taking place in these kind of
are taking place in these kind of makeshift spaces because they don’t have
makeshift spaces because they don’t have
makeshift spaces because they don’t have proper school buildings the schools were
proper school buildings the schools were
proper school buildings the schools were destroyed by the 2005 earthquake this
destroyed by the 2005 earthquake this
destroyed by the 2005 earthquake this school is happening in a mosque and this
school is happening in a mosque and this
school is happening in a mosque and this school is happening on a rented in the
school is happening on a rented in the
school is happening on a rented in the rented space it’s a room the kids are
rented space it’s a room the kids are
rented space it’s a room the kids are outside because there was an earthquake
outside because there was an earthquake
outside because there was an earthquake the day before but the remarkable thing
the day before but the remarkable thing
the day before but the remarkable thing what these photos show is that is how
what these photos show is that is how
what these photos show is that is how far back asan has come in the past five
far back asan has come in the past five
far back asan has come in the past five years we’ve gone to the point where
years we’ve gone to the point where
years we’ve gone to the point where teachers show up at least in Punjab and
teachers show up at least in Punjab and
teachers show up at least in Punjab and KP our absentee rates in Punjab and KP
KP our absentee rates in Punjab and KP
KP our absentee rates in Punjab and KP used to be twenty to thirty percent for
used to be twenty to thirty percent for
used to be twenty to thirty percent for teachers today it’s down to about 14
teachers today it’s down to about 14
teachers today it’s down to about 14 percent in Punjab and about sorry 8
percent in Punjab and about sorry 8
percent in Punjab and about sorry 8 percent or 7 / 7 percent in Punjab and
percent or 7 / 7 percent in Punjab and
percent or 7 / 7 percent in Punjab and 14 percent in KP so these massively
14 percent in KP so these massively
14 percent in KP so these massively absentee rates plummeted because the
absentee rates plummeted because the
absentee rates plummeted because the teacher started the government started
teacher started the government started
teacher started the government started sending monitors to every school to
sending monitors to every school to
sending monitors to every school to check if the teacher was present
check if the teacher was present
check if the teacher was present so in Punjab in keeping every month a
so in Punjab in keeping every month a
so in Punjab in keeping every month a monitor visits the approximately 70,000
monitor visits the approximately 70,000
monitor visits the approximately 70,000 schools that these two provinces have to
schools that these two provinces have to
schools that these two provinces have to check if the teacher is there because of
check if the teacher is there because of
check if the teacher is there because of this teachers are showing up however you
this teachers are showing up however you
this teachers are showing up however you can also see the wasted resources
can also see the wasted resources
can also see the wasted resources because this school in every school is
because this school in every school is
because this school in every school is supposed to have two teachers and a joke
supposed to have two teachers and a joke
supposed to have two teachers and a joke either you have only one teacher here so
either you have only one teacher here so
either you have only one teacher here so the majority of your budget and the
the majority of your budget and the
the majority of your budget and the questions we need to ask are around
questions we need to ask are around
questions we need to ask are around these teachers this is a joke either
interesting story with a joke either
interesting story with a joke either so there are teaching forests in
so there are teaching forests in
so there are teaching forests in Pakistan is enormous there are as many
Pakistan is enormous there are as many
Pakistan is enormous there are as many teachers in Pakistan as there are people
teachers in Pakistan as there are people
teachers in Pakistan as there are people in the military but
in the military but
in the military but the education departments are even
the education departments are even
the education departments are even bigger because of other staff like this
bigger because of other staff like this
bigger because of other staff like this joke either or bureaucrats so half of
joke either or bureaucrats so half of
joke either or bureaucrats so half of the governments of KP and Balochistan
the governments of KP and Balochistan
the governments of KP and Balochistan come from the Education Department and
come from the Education Department and
come from the Education Department and these Jogi guards were the people who
these Jogi guards were the people who
these Jogi guards were the people who buy custom this is not policy when they
buy custom this is not policy when they
buy custom this is not policy when they donated their land to the government to
donated their land to the government to
donated their land to the government to build a school the government would hire
build a school the government would hire
build a school the government would hire them and give them a government job as a
them and give them a government job as a
them and give them a government job as a joke either so they would have a stable
joke either so they would have a stable
joke either so they would have a stable government salary for life and these
government salary for life and these
government salary for life and these jokey guards under there are essentially
jokey guards under there are essentially
jokey guards under there are essentially the landlord’s and they’re easily the
the landlord’s and they’re easily the
the landlord’s and they’re easily the richest guy in the village and they’re
richest guy in the village and they’re
richest guy in the village and they’re all over town and really not at school
all over town and really not at school
all over town and really not at school and this guy was on his way tap the BOD
and this guy was on his way tap the BOD
and this guy was on his way tap the BOD I went to the first school sat down with
I went to the first school sat down with
I went to the first school sat down with the kids and open up their textbooks to
the kids and open up their textbooks to
the kids and open up their textbooks to a page that had a map of Pakistan on it
a page that had a map of Pakistan on it
a page that had a map of Pakistan on it and I asked these kids what is this
and I asked these kids what is this
and I asked these kids what is this geeky AAHA and they were quiet and I
geeky AAHA and they were quiet and I
geeky AAHA and they were quiet and I thought they were shy so I waited for a
thought they were shy so I waited for a
thought they were shy so I waited for a few minutes and they all sat around me
few minutes and they all sat around me
few minutes and they all sat around me and I finally asked them again you got
and I finally asked them again you got
and I finally asked them again you got him and finally one kid took a guess he
him and finally one kid took a guess he
him and finally one kid took a guess he said baa
said baa
said baa he couldn’t identify the map of Pakistan
he couldn’t identify the map of Pakistan
he couldn’t identify the map of Pakistan in this school I was excited to see the
in this school I was excited to see the
in this school I was excited to see the teacher holding a book that said US aid
teacher holding a book that said US aid
teacher holding a book that said US aid on it because this is a very distant
on it because this is a very distant
on it because this is a very distant village the teacher had a master’s
village the teacher had a master’s
village the teacher had a master’s degree she had been trained by USA to
degree she had been trained by USA to
degree she had been trained by USA to teach or do literacy eight months prior
teach or do literacy eight months prior
teach or do literacy eight months prior she had been trained by beacon house to
she had been trained by beacon house to
she had been trained by beacon house to teach English literacy eight months
teach English literacy eight months
teach English literacy eight months prior or actually within a few months
prior or actually within a few months
prior or actually within a few months before but when I asked her children to
before but when I asked her children to
before but when I asked her children to spell Pakistan they don’t know the first
spell Pakistan they don’t know the first
spell Pakistan they don’t know the first letter in any language these are third
letter in any language these are third
letter in any language these are third graders now these stats are consistent
graders now these stats are consistent
graders now these stats are consistent or these um what I’m telling you right
or these um what I’m telling you right
or these um what I’m telling you right now are consistent with the stats over
now are consistent with the stats over
now are consistent with the stats over less than half of third graders in
less than half of third graders in
less than half of third graders in Pakistan can read an or do sentence
Pakistan can read an or do sentence
Pakistan can read an or do sentence thirty percent can write a sentence with
thirty percent can write a sentence with
thirty percent can write a sentence with the word school in it in or do an 11
the word school in it in or do an 11
the word school in it in or do an 11 percent can do it in English this
percent can do it in English this
percent can do it in English this country does not have an out-of-school
country does not have an out-of-school
country does not have an out-of-school children crisis or crisis of out of
children crisis or crisis of out of
children crisis or crisis of out of school children and has a crisis of
school children and has a crisis of
school children and has a crisis of children who are in school and who are
children who are in school and who are
children who are in school and who are learning nothing it is very typical here
learning nothing it is very typical here
learning nothing it is very typical here in Pakistan to be in school for three
in Pakistan to be in school for three
in Pakistan to be in school for three five years and be completely illiterate
five years and be completely illiterate
five years and be completely illiterate this is why kids are dropping out and
this is why kids are dropping out and
this is why kids are dropping out and this is why it’s not worth it for
this is why it’s not worth it for
this is why it’s not worth it for parents to send their kids to school if
parents to send their kids to school if
parents to send their kids to school if they can’t afford a private school and
they can’t afford a private school and
they can’t afford a private school and private schools teachers are paid far
private schools teachers are paid far
private schools teachers are paid far less than a government sector they are
less than a government sector they are
less than a government sector they are do not have the training they don’t have
do not have the training they don’t have
do not have the training they don’t have the degrees but their kids are ahead
the degrees but their kids are ahead
the degrees but their kids are ahead simply because the parents are
simply because the parents are
simply because the parents are accountable
accountable
accountable the teachers are accountable to the
the teachers are accountable to the
the teachers are accountable to the parents so there’s a second story going
parents so there’s a second story going
parents so there’s a second story going on here this is a school without a roof
on here this is a school without a roof
on here this is a school without a roof and these are the two schools that are
and these are the two schools that are
and these are the two schools that are supposed to be the school buildings for
supposed to be the school buildings for
supposed to be the school buildings for these kids
these kids
these kids I mentioned that the schools were
I mentioned that the schools were
I mentioned that the schools were destroyed by the 2005 earthquake what
destroyed by the 2005 earthquake what
destroyed by the 2005 earthquake what happened was that the earthquake in 2005
happened was that the earthquake in 2005
happened was that the earthquake in 2005 destroyed 6,000 schools in KP and
destroyed 6,000 schools in KP and
destroyed 6,000 schools in KP and Kashmir the government to date has only
Kashmir the government to date has only
Kashmir the government to date has only rebuilt half of them even though they
rebuilt half of them even though they
rebuilt half of them even though they had all the money to do it today we
had all the money to do it today we
had all the money to do it today we still have an earthquake reconstruction
still have an earthquake reconstruction
still have an earthquake reconstruction agency in Assam Abad has 700 employees
agency in Assam Abad has 700 employees
agency in Assam Abad has 700 employees and it’s not doing anything and the
and it’s not doing anything and the
and it’s not doing anything and the reason this persists is because we don’t
reason this persists is because we don’t
reason this persists is because we don’t know what’s happening we don’t know that
know what’s happening we don’t know that
know what’s happening we don’t know that the earthquake reconstruction agency
the earthquake reconstruction agency
the earthquake reconstruction agency called era still exists it’s not
called era still exists it’s not
called era still exists it’s not supposed to and we don’t know that they
supposed to and we don’t know that they
supposed to and we don’t know that they haven’t done their job and it is in this
haven’t done their job and it is in this
haven’t done their job and it is in this ignorant that public resources are
ignorant that public resources are
ignorant that public resources are wasted this is abandoned reconstruction
wasted this is abandoned reconstruction
wasted this is abandoned reconstruction and by the way these schools have been
and by the way these schools have been
and by the way these schools have been sometimes on and off for about 10 years
sometimes on and off for about 10 years
sometimes on and off for about 10 years in terms of contractors showing a
in terms of contractors showing a
in terms of contractors showing a building a bit and leaving so I was
building a bit and leaving so I was
building a bit and leaving so I was excited when I did this work because I
excited when I did this work because I
excited when I did this work because I thought you know finally I can get the
thought you know finally I can get the
thought you know finally I can get the narrative on the right track but I had
narrative on the right track but I had
narrative on the right track but I had my most depressing moment a few weeks
my most depressing moment a few weeks
my most depressing moment a few weeks ago actually I had put the granddaughter
ago actually I had put the granddaughter
ago actually I had put the granddaughter of a woman who works in my house into an
of a woman who works in my house into an
of a woman who works in my house into an elite private school and when I and they
elite private school and when I and they
elite private school and when I and they happily took her she’s very happy there
happily took her she’s very happy there
happily took her she’s very happy there but when I tried to enroll the second
but when I tried to enroll the second
but when I tried to enroll the second child the school said no and based on
child the school said no and based on
child the school said no and based on nothing but the child’s background and
nothing but the child’s background and
nothing but the child’s background and the reason this was so depressing is
the reason this was so depressing is
the reason this was so depressing is because I knew the way that public
because I knew the way that public
because I knew the way that public education happens in any country on the
education happens in any country on the
education happens in any country on the world in Pakistan doesn’t have that
world in Pakistan doesn’t have that
world in Pakistan doesn’t have that ingredient which is elite inter
ingredient which is elite inter
ingredient which is elite inter in public education every country in the
in public education every country in the
in public education every country in the world that is achieved universal public
world that is achieved universal public
world that is achieved universal public education did it because elites pursued
education did it because elites pursued
education did it because elites pursued it as a project to create citizens for
it as a project to create citizens for
it as a project to create citizens for example in the u.s. the u.s. faced
example in the u.s. the u.s. faced
example in the u.s. the u.s. faced immigrants that were coming to the
immigrants that were coming to the
immigrants that were coming to the country that had to be socialized into a
country that had to be socialized into a
country that had to be socialized into a common American identity
common American identity
common American identity and so the u.s. used public schools to
and so the u.s. used public schools to
and so the u.s. used public schools to assimilate people into a single identity
assimilate people into a single identity
assimilate people into a single identity in Pakistan we have a very opposite
in Pakistan we have a very opposite
in Pakistan we have a very opposite problem we all think we’re leaving
problem we all think we’re leaving
problem we all think we’re leaving elites are emigrating or think that they
elites are emigrating or think that they
elites are emigrating or think that they are and therefore we have no stake and
are and therefore we have no stake and
are and therefore we have no stake and actually what happens and this shows up
actually what happens and this shows up
actually what happens and this shows up in our disinterest and then the things
in our disinterest and then the things
in our disinterest and then the things that are happening that we don’t know
that are happening that we don’t know
that are happening that we don’t know I’ve already shared some things with you
I’ve already shared some things with you
I’ve already shared some things with you but there’s a lot more for example we
but there’s a lot more for example we
but there’s a lot more for example we don’t know that there’s a law in the
don’t know that there’s a law in the
don’t know that there’s a law in the books in Pakistan that says that private
books in Pakistan that says that private
books in Pakistan that says that private schools must take in 10% of their seats
schools must take in 10% of their seats
schools must take in 10% of their seats and give them to disadvantaged students
and give them to disadvantaged students
and give them to disadvantaged students for free we don’t know it exists and we
for free we don’t know it exists and we
for free we don’t know it exists and we don’t know it exists because we copy
don’t know it exists because we copy
don’t know it exists because we copy pasted these laws from India and so
pasted these laws from India and so
pasted these laws from India and so there’s no local constituency to
there’s no local constituency to
there’s no local constituency to implement these laws in Pakistan there
implement these laws in Pakistan there
implement these laws in Pakistan there are other things happening we have
are other things happening we have
are other things happening we have political will and KP and Punjab but
political will and KP and Punjab but
political will and KP and Punjab but what’s missing is anyone that knows what
what’s missing is anyone that knows what
what’s missing is anyone that knows what they’re trying to do these Education
they’re trying to do these Education
they’re trying to do these Education Department’s are fighting losing battles
Department’s are fighting losing battles
Department’s are fighting losing battles against powerful teachers unions who
against powerful teachers unions who
against powerful teachers unions who have media on their sides they have the
have media on their sides they have the
have media on their sides they have the courts on their sides the media covers
courts on their sides the media covers
courts on their sides the media covers their protests because they’re easy to
their protests because they’re easy to
their protests because they’re easy to cover and nobody seems to want to know
cover and nobody seems to want to know
cover and nobody seems to want to know more the courts file stay orders
more the courts file stay orders
more the courts file stay orders whenever the government tries to hold a
whenever the government tries to hold a
whenever the government tries to hold a teacher accountable we need to know
teacher accountable we need to know
teacher accountable we need to know what’s happening we need to understand
what’s happening we need to understand
what’s happening we need to understand that these bills that are going to hold
that these bills that are going to hold
that these bills that are going to hold teachers more accountable that
teachers more accountable that
teachers more accountable that departments are trying to put them in
departments are trying to put them in
departments are trying to put them in place in order for these things to be
place in order for these things to be
place in order for these things to be realized and finally English is a huge
realized and finally English is a huge
realized and finally English is a huge problem I told you 40% of kids in this
problem I told you 40% of kids in this
problem I told you 40% of kids in this country go to English medium private
country go to English medium private
country go to English medium private schools these are aspiring middle-class
schools these are aspiring middle-class
schools these are aspiring middle-class families that are putting a large part
families that are putting a large part
families that are putting a large part of their income into private education
of their income into private education
of their income into private education but English medium means that textbooks
but English medium means that textbooks
but English medium means that textbooks and tests are in English teachers don’t
and tests are in English teachers don’t
and tests are in English teachers don’t speak English 94% of English medium
speak English 94% of English medium
speak English 94% of English medium private school teachers in Punjab
private school teachers in Punjab
private school teachers in Punjab 94% of them don’t know English so these
94% of them don’t know English so these
94% of them don’t know English so these kids are row learning because they just
kids are row learning because they just
kids are row learning because they just need to get through tests in a language
need to get through tests in a language
need to get through tests in a language they don’t know they’re memorizing
they don’t know they’re memorizing
they don’t know they’re memorizing sounds and by this time these kids get
sounds and by this time these kids get
sounds and by this time these kids get to university
to university
to university unlike the government kids they can
unlike the government kids they can
unlike the government kids they can function in English but all they can do
function in English but all they can do
function in English but all they can do is plagiarize all around the world the
is plagiarize all around the world the
is plagiarize all around the world the standard is that kids should learn in
standard is that kids should learn in
standard is that kids should learn in the language that they speak this
the language that they speak this
the language that they speak this doesn’t happen because we have
doesn’t happen because we have
doesn’t happen because we have privileged English as the language of
privileged English as the language of
privileged English as the language of the elite when it’s really just a mode
the elite when it’s really just a mode
the elite when it’s really just a mode of communication finally we need a local
of communication finally we need a local
of communication finally we need a local narrative for education right now we’re
narrative for education right now we’re
narrative for education right now we’re running on a borrowed narrative that has
running on a borrowed narrative that has
running on a borrowed narrative that has been created by donors who don’t have
been created by donors who don’t have
been created by donors who don’t have the resources and don’t have the
the resources and don’t have the
the resources and don’t have the interest that’s why it’s not realized
interest that’s why it’s not realized
interest that’s why it’s not realized you guys might say well we do care about
you guys might say well we do care about
you guys might say well we do care about education we give philanthropy
education we give philanthropy
education we give philanthropy philanthropy is meaningful it’s worth
philanthropy is meaningful it’s worth
philanthropy is meaningful it’s worth 2.4 billion dollars which is four times
2.4 billion dollars which is four times
2.4 billion dollars which is four times bigger than aid but it’s not enough
bigger than aid but it’s not enough
bigger than aid but it’s not enough because it builds thousands of schools
because it builds thousands of schools
because it builds thousands of schools this country has about two hundred
this country has about two hundred
this country has about two hundred thousand schools that are falling short
thousand schools that are falling short
thousand schools that are falling short we need a local narrative and we need to
we need a local narrative and we need to
we need a local narrative and we need to privilege those in this country who
privilege those in this country who
privilege those in this country who don’t speak English and we need to
don’t speak English and we need to
don’t speak English and we need to respect what they have to say in order
respect what they have to say in order
respect what they have to say in order to realize what needs to be done thanks
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