Educational Policies Syndrome: Teacher Education Programmes and Teacher Recruitment Practices in Pakistan

• Published in: Journal of research in social sciences 2014-01, Vol.1 (1), p.52
• Main Authors: Behlol, Malik Ghulam, Dad, Hukam, Raja, Sadaf Ayub
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Budgets; Education policy; Quality of education; Teaching
• ISSN: 2305-6533; 2306-112X

The major objectives of the study were to review the educational policies formulated by different governments with respect to teacher education programmes and teacher recruitment practices in Pakistan after independence during the period from 1947 to 2009. The method of document analysis was applied to conduct this study. The researcher critically reviewed the policies to establish the major trends and measures as well as their impacts on the development and quality of teacher education. The major conclusions are: slogan of merit based appointments was repeated as a point scoring game in the educational polices without any political will to implement it in letter and spirit. Formulation of educational policy remained the top priority of every government in Pakistan and no attention was paid to the continuity and implementation of the policy. It is recommended that the Public Teacher Education Commission may be established to appoint teachers at all levels, and the policy makers are required to attend not only the formulation but also the implementation of the policy. It is also recommended that separate head in budget for teacher education, improving the salary structure, recognizing the work of teachers may be made to attract the bright intellectuals in this profession. The promotion of teachers may be linked with their performance and contribution to the educational field instead of their length of service.