Zaryab Khan -“O” and “A” level education system

Subject: Creative writing
Practical work carried out under supervision of Siddique Soomro Sb

 Zaryab Khan

Class : BS-III (Part 3)

Roll no : 2k17/Mc/106

Article

“O” and “A” level education system in Pakistan

Education is the process of learning, getting knowledge, skills, and habits. Education is divided into two parts, one is formal and other is informal. Formal  education is classroom-based education which is imported by trained teachers and informal education is that students get knowledge from libraries, museum, community organisation and home. Education has some levels and those levels make a system which is called education system. 

Every country have their own education system which they follow. Pakistan has it’s own education system which are divided in six levels. First is preschool which start at the age of 3 to 5 years, second is primary level (which start from class one and end to class five), third is middle level (which start from class six and end to class eight), fourth is secondary  level (which start from class ninth to class tenth leading the secondary school certificate or SSC), fifth is higher level (which start from class eleven to twelve, leading to Higher secondary school certificate or HSSC), and in the last level is University programs, (which lead to undergraduate and graduate degree). Included all these levels, Pakistan has two more levels: O level and A level which are optional because it is the replacement of ninth, metric, first year and second year. When it’s offered in Pakistan and why it is rapidly growing in Pakistan?

The General Certificate Of education (GCE)  conducted examination in 1951 of two main levels Ordinary level (O level) and Advance level (A level) in the England. This education system is accepted by fifty countries including Pakistan. It’s being offered  in Pakistan since 1959 and there are many institutions in the country which offer GCE “O” and “A” level courses to the pupil but recognised institutions from the British council in Pakistan are 335 schools which have two thousand three hundred (2,300) teachers and twenty three thousand four hundred and twelve (23,412) students are enrolled in “O” and “A” levels. This education system is rapidly growing all over the world because the local education systems are not much better. Shelve said that “O” and “A” level education systems were getting more popularity as compared to any other system in Pakistan.

The causes of its rapid growth was found that “O” and “A” level institutions equipped with modern facilities like modern computers, new and modern equipment in science labs, well-prepared play grounds, and first aid facility and as well highly qualified teachers who help the students to engage in class participation. The facilities which are available in O an A levels are rarely found in government schools of Pakistan. Besides, government schools do not have well-designed and well-equipped class rooms and laboratories which are hurdle in imparting quality education to secondary and intermediate stages. 

 “O” and “A” level students and their parents are more satisfied with this system because of their views were recorded transparently and fairly by the Cambridge and Edexcel examination board through British council, Pakistan. The flexibility of “O” and “A” level develop interest in students for studies and this system also has no age restrictions. Peter said that “O” and “A” level institutions develop the students  with proper career counseling. That is why “O” and “A” level students have much job opportunities than other students because multinational companies prefer “O” and “A” level students as compared to others. 

The “O” and “A” level institutes are expensive but parents send their children in these institutes because no other private and government schools are imparting quality Other cause is international standard. The majority of “O” and “A” level’s students belong to the elite class . Sending children in “O” and “A” level institution is considered a status symbol for families in Pakistan. 

Good remuneration is necessary for better performance. All teachers of “O” and “A” levels are well remunerated and that they were satisfied with their remuneration which is the best motivation for “O” and “A” level teachers. The “O” and “A” level teachers are better paid than the government teachers.

“O” and “A” level education system have many good things but this system face some problems which are follow as

·         The students of “O” and “A” level complaint that reference books which are mostly not available in the markets because reference books elaborate the concepts more clearly.

·          Courses of O and A Level are very lengthy which become the burden on the students and its effects the performance of the students. A lengthy syllabus should be concise. Because of that, Cambridge and Edexcel should revise and trim their syllabi according to the approach of students and teachers.

·         Lack of pre-service training are reported in “O” and “A” level. Pre-service training gives a better idea of teaching.  Pre-service training should be required for all “O” and “A” level teachers. 

·         In “O” and “A” level institutions, less focus on moral values. Emphasis on moral values in institutions is necessary for building student character at all levels of education.  There should be a focus on moral values in “O” and “A” level institutions and institutions should arrange the seminars and lectures on Islamic teachings by the religious scholars on regular basis.

·         Fees of “O” and “A” level is very high so it should be reduce so low income students  can easily get admissions and get the quality of education.    

As part of creative writing