Dr Muhammad Afzal Babar, founder and central president of the Private Schools Network, told an education seminar organised by Modern Age Society in Islamabad that Pakistan’s education system is not meeting the demands of the modern era. Speaking as the guest of honor, he said that wherever nations have advanced, education reform was the first and most important step.
Dr Babar urged policymakers, educators and community leaders to work together to guarantee free and compulsory education as a constitutional right so the new generation can receive contemporary learning. He noted that Pakistan has 25 crore people and that 60 percent of the population is young, emphasising that educating this generation is essential for national reconstruction and progress.
Drawing comparisons with countries such as Japan and Germany, Dr Babar highlighted examples of systemic reform and also referenced the historic example of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ arranging education for the children of Medina, including involving prisoners captured at the Battle of Badr in efforts to teach local youth. He used this to underline the long tradition of prioritising learning in society.
Answering questions from the audience, Dr Babar said that 78 years is a long span in a nation’s history and that real change requires leaders to set an example. He argued that if ruling families began enrolling their own children in public schools, it would help improve standards across the board, but he lamented that quality public education is not currently a priority for many decision makers.
At the close of the seminar, Professor Abdul Waheed Mir, director of Modern Age Public School, thanked the guest of honor and other participants for their contributions. The institution presented a souvenir to Dr Muhammad Afzal Babar in recognition of his address and commitment to education reform.
