IT Education in Pakistan

Imagine what would happen if you are driving you’re a car with a speed of 40 km/hour. While other cars would be availing the speed limit by going faster at 70 km/hour and would cover distances in lesser time, you would be left behind. This is what is happening on the real front of information highway in Pakistan. Though we are moving ahead, but with a slow speed and so, are left behind in a race that needs the maximum of our speed/attention. But the good thing is the race is still going on and we still have time to catch-up, by putting a strong foot on the accelerator. And so as a theory says…’Realisation of the problem is half the solution of problem’ the article might help defining roles to almost everybody related to the EDUCATION scenario.

PROLOGUE

As Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman said, ‘Today’s world is sharply divided by a ‘Technology Boundary’ which separate the technologically advance countries from the technologically backward countries. The former used there scientists and engineers for rapid economic growth while the so-called; ever ‘developing countries’ (which in reality are not ‘developing’ at all) are demoted to the role of consumers of technological products, being dependent on the advanced countries for most of their needs, (Beacon house Academic Conference 2000).

We know well that our education system is still failing to deliver the very basic purpose of mass education i.e. to make people literate enough to become economically useful in today’s world, but still are afraid to admit it. Educational credentials, which are certificates of competency in a sane society, have become a marketable product, like soap, ghee, tea, etc. (bizarrely disheartening, isn’t it). After attending events like The Beacon House Academic Conference, ITCN Asia, and reading about GITEX, Pakistan Developers Conference and the Technology Industry Conference 2004, I have come to believe that there is something really important lacking in the Pakistani IT education scenario - ‘The correct IT sense’. As there would always be a chance of improvement, so while we are having international exhibitions like ITCN to promote economy through IT, we can also make improvement in the real education scene and move further with our curriculum improvement at the institutions.

THE NEW EDUCATION THEORY

Today’s youth are different from any other generation before them. They are exposed to digital technology in practically all aspects of their daily life. A few years ago IT was used to run business and research, internet and wireless mobile communication as easily as telephones. This technology is making today’s youngsters the most demanding and challenging students in history and our educational system should eagerly embrace the new opportunities this technology offers. Education will always have to be updated and compatible according to the time, to keep up with the evolving economy and demands of the market (both local and international). And as almost all of education worldwide has become heavily influenced by virtual and real education, the demand of more analytically stronger professionals is growing who not only implement what they have learnt but also come up with new innovative ideas on a regular basis. The latest theory in learning is that not all students learn the same capacity for learning. Most students learn more when they collaborate with others. Technology can provide learning alternatives for many traditionally ‘disadvantaged’ students like online open discussions between students of different universities from different countries studying the same courses/subjects or taking the same degree. For instance the Global School Net is one good resource of Classroom Conferencing through CU-SeeMe School Project.

(See www.gsn.org/cu)

COMPUTERS IN EDUCATION

Learning starts with a goal. Real people can’t learn by being told to learn. The real problem is transmission of knowledge. What do we know and how do we learn it? Knowledge is non-conscious. It is embedded in cases and stories, not in facts. Lecturing still may produce professionals but it cannot produce researchers, technologists, revolutionists and ideologists anymore. But yes computer-based learning can. Computers have moved out of the laboratory and into the high street. As Dr. Roger Schank, Founder of Virtual Education theory (and latter courses at the Columbia University) say’s ‘computers are about to change everything about Education’. They will be able to address the difference between real students are theoretical students. Theoretical students sit quietly and listen. They do what they are told and remember everything you tell them. Theoretical students can immediately execute any detailed plan and they remedy what they forget by studying.

Lecturing may still work with the theoretical students but does not work at all with the 21st century real students anymore. They are easily bored with the temporary memorization. Albert Einstein once remarked, “One had to stuff all that jumble into oneself for the exam, whether one liked it or not. This compulsion had such a deterrent effect that, having passed the final exam, I lost all taste for any reflection on scientific problems for whole year.” Computer Technology can provide immediate feedback. It presents knowledge in a visual, more real, graphic way, using multimedia. It uses two of the most highlights and strong senses of VISUALISING and LISTENING in lectures, and goes on towards ‘learning by doing’ exercises.

Research and result show that:

• Students learn more in class with computer-based instruction,

• Students learn quicker with computer-based instruction,

• Students like their class more when given computer help.

THE WORLD’S LEVEL OF IT EDUCATION

Analysis: I was reading a report about the Technology Industry Conference that took place at Stanford University, CA, previous year. Attended by software and hardware industry gains like Intel, CISCO and Hewlett Packard, it was openly discussed and accepted that the US is not more the IT leader as far as new technology and advancement are concerned. While I was bit surprised to read that as the world’s largest IT industry, Silicon Valley resides in California, USA with all the major software and hardware corporations (Intel, IBM, Microsoft, Apple etc) having their headquarters there, the country has lost the Chinese built a strong IT market by building strong IT professionals. Amazing, isn’t it???

Comparison: In the same conference, the three most talked about countries, as far as technology is concerned, were India, China, and Russia. When the discussion moved to India, the consensus was that India is flourishing in technology not only because it has cheaper labour – but because it has smart, intelligent people with good academics and strong mathematical & analytical skills. In one year, India produce more IT specialists than all of Europe combined and so do we in Pakistan can also boast about thousands graduating in IT every year. Except that most of our IT graduate go to the IT University with an obsolete curriculum or an IT Institute being run by IT graduates or diploma holders (who are not able to find good jobs in the market themselves); only to receive a credential worth nothing. It was disheartening (not demoralizing, though) to know the real reasons why the blue chip companies are not investing in Pakistan good IT professionals even though we have the best technical and intellectual minds, as compared to the Indians, Chinese or any other nation.

PAKISTAN IT EDUCATION SCENARIO

Evaluating the quality of IT education in the country, I am not going to count the number of institute and academies offering IT education (a only few are up-to-the mark) or the number of Technical graduates (mostly unemployed), or should I? As Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman said, ‘What we must realize is that the real worth of a country is its people – it is the quality of education with which they are blessed and it is the ability of a country to make full use of its educated manpower for development which makes certain nations rich and relegates others to join the community of the poor ones’ (Beaconhouse Academic Conference 2000). While the outer world institute offer degrees and courses in Data Mining, Entertainment Technology, E-Commerce, Biospectrum (research in new drugs), Biometrics (infra-red, hand or retina scanning), Infrascan (brain bleeding scan), Telecommunication, Geo-Technology and Computer Engineering, the Pakistani institute are still practicing lecture and written exams curricula even with the most practical subjects. This is one of the main reasons why Pakistan is unable to produce the kind of quality, skilled manpower that can be generated in other parts of the world. Consequently, graduates from foreign universities are valued as superior to those graduating locally. There is complete come lack of co-ordination among the universities and institutes, which often gives way to discrepancies in the standard of education being imparted by each of the institute. They teach obsolete language and software like Fox Pro, COBOL, FORTRAN, C Language, VB and Java to some a few.

FEAR

During my discussion with many teachers / educators, trainers, professionals and students all over our country, I felt apparently that new technology is still viewed by them as an outsider with horror, and unacceptability. Hence, their encounters with it are replete with Suspicion. For this attitude to have prevailed I am not only critical of the institutions alone. Technology and the media are the main culprits, having paid no attention to this growing feeling and of having done little or nothing to defuse the situation and introduce what’s ‘new’ and ‘in-demand’, while old languages, technology and theories are still being taught and marketed.

AWARENESS

For a new technology accompanied by suspicion and dehumanizing effects, it is required to create awareness on large. In the past, access to information, analysis and research about new technology was also not available in sufficient quantity and with enough ease to formulate a judgment. This is no longer true and requires very little effort. Publications devote whole issue to the debate, TV channels are filled with talk and the Internet, itself, offers more realized that it has facilitated the educators, may it be the incorporation of the black boards, flash cards, videotext books or computers.

ROLE OF IT INSTITUTE & UNIVERSITIES

While LUMS, GIKI, FAST-NU and NUST are making a difference in the local IT education scene with degrees and courses covering Computer Sciences, New Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Database, Data Communication, Programming Languages, Software Engineering & Quality Assurance, Aerospace / Avionics & Telecommunications; other IT universities and institutions are offering courses which are obsolete, old and no more ‘in-demand’ in the practical world. These and colleges are in no interest of updating their curriculum on a yearly basis and have not intention of facilitating there students with education that make them earn a good future after graduating. As a result, a great number of IT graduates are not able to find them selves good, paying careers, as their expertise is no more required by the job market. This is the ‘worst type of cheating in the name of education’ we can ever do with our students. IT institutions at any level, however, can play a very significant role improving things. A few days ago somebody told me that if someone is outlining and pointing the areas of errors and weakness, than he should come up or suggest a solution, so here it is.

Updating Curriculum:

As I said earlier, that the educational institution no matter at whatever level need to have a concentrated, focused approach towards the regular update of the curriculum being taught. The goal is to be actively involved with designing and implementing a curriculum that meets the needs of the century and the next. The curriculum always has to be latest, revised and progressive, according to the economical demands and up to the international standards as well, so that our professionals are also compatible to the job market abroad. Indeed the content/theories/practices are not the only portions of a curriculum to be updated but the way of teaching also needs upgrading applying the latest tools and methods.

Career Counseling:

IT institutes mainly should be working on the scenario of IMPARTING KNOWLEDGE, guiding the very scattered, unsure/unfocused minds, by informing them about the latest developments in the technology field and the market demands. The economical aspect of everything in IT should be highlighted so that careers are sought and selected accordingly.

Orientations of the latest IT courses:

Local IT institutes should communicate with the foreign institutions, search the Web, IT magazines; correspond with the expert/educationists and entrepreneurs to find out the latest happenings in the world of IT, especially the latest jobs requirements. The information acquired so, should be accessible easily, publicized and printed to create awareness about the importance, timeline, and market of all that is new in the field.

Facilitating Teachers:

IT institutes can be a source for teacher training. They can train fresh graduates to make them pursue teachings as a profession, later placing them on jobs at various institutions working as a JOB BANK too. While those teachers who cannot afford or manage to join full time degrees or courses to be updated in computer-based teaching should be facilitated by institutions through IN-HOUSE or short-term training courses. One good example has already been initiated two years back by an academic research and training organisation with the name of New Century Education. They offer a 6-8 months course called Advance Teacher Training (ATT) facilitating teachers around the latest theory of IT-coordinated lessons, i.e. teaching primary school children through computer-based learning. With two batches of IT trained primary teachers in the market, this is a one of its kind e-learning course, and perhaps the every first in the whole country. (See www.nceonline.com).

Facilities Schools:

Taking IT as a subject taught in schools, or subjects being taught with the help of IT (IT-Coordinated lessons), institute are useful for schools/colleges/universities who do not have computer teachers or access to computer labs. Most importantly, IT institute can play a role in setting up centres for students; centres that use varied forms of technology, such as computers, multimedia and robotics to complement the syllabi. Established school like The Beaconhouse School System and Education Services/Foundations like The Citizens Foundation and The Aga Khan Education Services are playing a vital role in this regard by helping out other ‘infant’ schools to settle down in a much better and organised way. But still focused effort it to be given at the quality of education in remote areas where it is most deteriorated.

Creating Professionals:

Today’s economies are largely service based economies where almost all jobs require ‘knowledge workers’. Educational institutes need to respond to the needs of the knowledge economy. Students want education that is accessible, convenient and ofcourse according to the demand of the business world. Under the new economy, where students would plan for a four-year degree, they will now be planning for a forty-year degree. In other words, education will continue through most of their lives, as each new breakthrough in science, technology, or economics will come much faster it did before. Very few institute in Pakistan like Iqra University, The Career Hut, IBA, LUMS and GIKI (some others too) respond to the need of an industry based education, which makes the students really compatible to the needs of the professional world. Thus the students of these institutions have a job market ready to embrace them even before they pass-out. Others need to follow a curriculum likewise which include internship and training enabling a students to understand the way of professional working during his or her studies.

Developing Trainers:

World’s fastest growing corporations and organisations train their employees to gain the competitive edge over the untrained individual/companies in the new economy. High tech multimedia centres should replace correspondence and video, and university and college programs must be tailored to an individual’s needs as opposed to the ‘one size fits all’ system that is prevalent today. In this reference Jinnah Public School & Computer Academy is running an computer training program successfully, training professionals inside the campus from different cities, others need to follow by making attempts in ‘out-of-campus’ training program similarly.

ROLE OF INTERNET

Internet is an enabling technology which needs to be used for the benefits of society it may be used as a tool for this. Encouragement, however, has to come from the decision makers, the intellectuals, and the professionals. The Pakistani society needs to make conscious efforts to use modern technology towards the delivery of content relevant to our needs, be it educational, service-oriented or pure entertainment. With the development of the World Wide Web (with its high speed delivery of information) it is easy to find out what is in and out. It is above all a communication tool – one that allows teachers, students and professionals to communicate with other students, colleagues and specialists abroad and ask them what they are doing and what is HOT?

ROLE OF TEACHERS

Are teachers, to blame at all? I believe they must bear some, if not all responsibility for the way things are. A commitment to a profession – especially one that holds the key to the development of societies and nations – demands that they keep up with all modern methodologies and study their advantages & disadvantages. The main problem is the ‘We-know-what-Education-needs’ attitude leading to a very weak and incompatible education system. Wrongfully called ‘de-humanising’, the Internet provides an opportunity for teachers to expose their students not only to a vast array of informational resources but more importantly to human resources from around the world. Teaching should be a voyage of discovery rather than imparting of information or facts. The teacher should help in grasping a basic structure of the subject so that the student may be able to learn by himself – the latest development in the subject even when he leaves the institution. Teachers need to be current in contact and have passion for the profession of teaching. IT is not a subject to be learned and taught on a ‘once-and-for-all’ basis. The teachers are really required to be updated, always.

ROLE OF STUDENTS

In open forums and seminars I have heard students blaming the education system for not providing quality or economy based education. But some of the blame lies on their shoulders too. Students need to do some checking, research and discussion before getting themselves into a degree/course or diploma, no matter how short, affordable or convenient it is. They need not to see the free structure first but the credibility of the institution and the demand of that peculiar course-expertise in the job market. Information no matter of whichever type is good but should be relevant always. ‘Relevant’ means economically relevant in this context. While on other issue, if our brightest graduates take up the teaching profession, if being offered an appropriately attractive salary package than, this would be a major step in the right direction. I am extremely critical of the theory that one can only make a good career and a splendid living while working in a multinational or a bank only. This is no more true. Teachers (good ones only) are highly paid today, infact the very few of the PhD’s in our country are mostly associated with teaching. So why not the best of our graduates??

The internet is the greatest equalizer the world has ever seen. Even an IT professional in a rural area of Pakistan with a computer and an internet connection has access to the same knowledge as a person sitting in Silicon Valley. You can get trained through e-learning, share ideas with professionals and colleagues and most of all find out about everything that is going-on inside and outside the country especially in the economy world. Therefore at an individual’s level there are almost no barriers in acquiring ‘knowledge’. Hence a student before going to buy a 4 year degree in IT (or even a shorter course) should take the trouble of searching through websites, meeting career counselors and reading some context to find out the ‘real demand’ of his/her future expertise in case of taking that course.

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

Our present government is trying to promote IT (in all its means) more than anything. The realization, however, only would come by creating a favorable climate for foreign companies/investors and venture capitalists by developing both TRUST and PROFESSIONALS (as did China). Developing software parks or policies is not going to attract investments. The government can also help this process by opening up its accreditations and records of the most updated/upgraded educational institutes to the public and making them available through the internet. It could encourage the development of exact, useful educational contents (curricula) for institutes all over the country. Private or public sector projects should also be supported by the government in terms of donations, accreditations, and licenses as a reward in return of their good work towards betterment of education standards. I am completely confident to say that finally we have got some leaders after long times that are Really Making ‘CHANGES’.

ROLE OF PUBLICATIONS

Fortunately a country with an ‘Insufficient IT Education level’ has asunder of publications covering IT and Technology issues ’sufficiently’ with more than half a dozen magazines covering technological issues’ it is astoundingly and this more than satisfactory at present (perhaps we should call for celebration). The best three of these publications cover technical, academic, corporate/private, government, international and the public sector issues on a regular basis, however one good advice for these publications is that a scenario like that of Pakistan (unaware) need more awareness. An easy way to do it is to arrange open discussions between there readers and the writers, both panels comprising of students, teachers, private/corporate sector representatives and IT professionals.

ROLE OF PRIVATE/CORPORATE SECTOR

Pakistan is one lucky country to have received services by the corporate sector which was meant to be given by the public sector in real. For instance through Intel’s TEACH TO THE FUTURE program, participating teachers receive extensive training and resources to promote effective technology use in the classroom. This program has been especially launches to target public and private school teachers to facilitate their daily curriculum and enhance students learning capability. As per official figures, our 75000 teachers have been successfully trained by the Intel to date. On the other side, NCR Corporation has also initiated one of its time NCR Teradata university program in Data Warehousing connecting with 6 universities of Pakistan including LUMS, NUST, IBA, COMSATS, FAST and MUET to introduce data warehousing courses at graduate and post graduate level. The IT Excellence awards, also initiated by NCR in 1997 are annual awards events acknowledging achievements in IT by medals, certificates and IT awards. This is one great step to words ‘ACKNOWLEDGMENT’, which is not a usual practice in our country. (See www.itexellenceawards.com). Effort, however, must be given towards scholarships at the local institutions, Internship Openings, and creating job markets.

ROLE OF EDUCATION CONFERENCES/EXHIBITIONS/SEMINARS

To generate an interest on large and adopt IT at home, work and business, Public/Private/Government sector organisations arrange seminars, conferences and exhibitions very frequently. ITCN and PDC are few examples. This is a great step, however, a focused efforts is missing as ITCN was a totally commercial event (that also disastrously arranged) bringing the same features and names every year and not attracting new investors or names from the international scene even after 4 years of its inception. The emphasis of an EXHIBITION should be generating interest of investment by foreign giants in the local market, which was more centered towards ‘Earning through Sponsorships’. Perhaps a major missing point to be noted is that no effort has been done yet for an ‘IT Education’ conference or seminar to facilitate teachers, students and fresh IT professionals.

CAREER IN IT

We have this dogma in our young minds that they only need a credential (degree) to find themselves a career in life. That might be one requirement but not certainly all of it. Apart from possessing the necessary technology and business skills, professionals have to be creative, inquisitive, willing to take risks, result-oriented, opportunity-hunting, willing to learn and best be a team worker. After a lengthy research and discussions, I was able to formulate that the present Pakistani job market holds opportunities for people having expertise in Software Developers, Analysis and Assurance Computer Engineering, Geo-Technology, Telecommunications, Project Management, Hardware and Networking, Data base and System Administration, Content editing, and most of all TEACHING. This one field might not hold enough attrition (especially in terms of a good package and a challenging job) but yes, if you want to make a difference than you might go for it applying that you get your self both of the above mentioned things by proving your self a good students at exams, projects and presentation.

WHAT’S OUT THERE AND WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?

That ‘SCHOOL’ is no longer the place where the bulk of a students learning takes place, and may even be the place where interest in learning is often destroyed by doing temporary memorisation. Most agree that the needs of education today (and a much closer ‘tomorrow’) are totally different from those of yesterday. The speed of change, coupled with the effects of globalization, has also added new twists. While technology alone does not answer all needs it will be the educator’s most useful ally. The ‘one-size-fits-all’ education philosophy is not only invalid but will ultimately do more harm than good. New methods are evolving. Educators must, like scientist in a lab, thinker and prod the process of CHANGE and ADOPTION. We are witnessing a totally new dimension of education. To keep pace with the rapid technological change taking place globally, we must adapt to these changes, or the left behind. We have new tools that can transforms the process of education it self. We need to understand these tools and their potential and to involve them in our evolving as a technologically aware nation. We have new, computing needs and opportunities in society, and we can’t afford to have them compromised. Education is the key for over success in the individually and collectively, and our current patters are downheartedly obsolete. We have to build up an education system that constantly upgrade its responses, and transforms it self according to the needs and demands of the time. Pakistan is very promising market. We have a population of more than 140 million, with most of the young ones speaking the language of technology. We have a government how has never been more open to the prospects of progress. We have made significant investment. With that population, we have thousand of students with an IQ level in the genius category but we don’t give all of them a challenging educational environment, which unleashes their creativity. They are bound to attend institution where they learn to memories and reproduce facts in examinations. We need to do what ever is needed to be done to give over students a competitive edge to be right up there at the forefront.