Knowing a fancy word such as “juxtaposition” or “henceforth” can sometimes be a boost to the ego. But imagine what happens to that ego when a college student finds out that a thesaurus is not a dictionary. What’s even more worrisome for that student is realizing that everyone around her at that moment already knew what a thesaurus actually was.
At this point, one might assume that the student must be ignorant—after all, doesn’t everyone know what a thesaurus is?
Wrong.
Later that day, it became an eye-opening realization for that student that many people do not actually know the difference between a dictionary and a thesaurus. It’s a simple matter, and there need not be much debate about it, but this situation sheds light on the education system we have.
Granted, English is not our mother tongue, but one would think that in a country that has deemed English its official language, its citizens would at least know the basics. No one expects every individual to be a Shakespeare or a John Keats, but it is reasonable to assume that people would have a fundamental grasp of the language that holds official status.
The Bigger Issue: A Flawed Education System Â
This brings us to the main point—why are we so laid back in terms of education? Students get into the best universities and even graduate with a 4.0 GPA, yet when asked what “tan” stands for in math or whether “uninterest” is a real word or simply means “not interested,” they find themselves in the same situation as that college student—dumbfounded and rethinking their life choices.
In a world evolving so rapidly, one would expect people to explore more and be more aware. However, in our society, we not only accept what is handed down to us but also pass the same ideology to future generations. A large portion of Pakistan’s population is still far from the concept of education, let alone learning English. This raises another question: why have we named English as our official language in the first place?
Most countries prioritize their native language, yet we have prioritized a foreign language in which many of us remain at a very basic level. But realistically speaking, there aren’t many Zia Mohyeddins or Farazs left in Pakistan’s Urdu literary scene either.
 A System Stuck in Time
Looking at our education system through a critical lens, it is disheartening to see that the same problems that existed 40 years ago still persist, and no one seems to be doing anything about them. The question is—why?
Why is everyone so indifferent? Why does society continue to follow the same outdated patterns? Why can’t we, or rather why don’t we, do anything about it? Only a small percentage of our community is fortunate enough to receive an education, and an even smaller percentage reaches college or university.
But if English is labeled as our official language, shouldn’t its basics be taught at the grassroots level? Shouldn’t everyone understand what is being communicated in official matters? Shouldn’t people at least know the difference between a thesaurus and a dictionary?
A Lost Desire for Learning? Â
Or are we simply unwilling to learn and don’t care? It might seem that as generations progress, they have become more relaxed and lack the thirst for knowledge that older generations possessed. If so, whose fault is that?
Is it just the way the world works now, or is society failing the education system—or is the education system failing us? These are questions with many potential answers, but one thing remains certain: Pakistan has a failing education system. It confines students within outdated norms and rigid curricula, forcing them to think inside the box instead of exploring diverse areas of knowledge. Students—and society as a whole—are conditioned to accept what is taught without questioning it, gradually losing the ability to analyze, criticize, and seek knowledge independently.
The system does not nurture creativity or a genuine desire to learn. As a result, it produces individuals who face situations similar to that of the college student.
A Call for Change Â
It is high time we start evaluating what is truly being taught at the foundational level. Education should not just be about accepting information—it should also foster the ability to explore and question.
Our education system is in desperate need of redefinition and reform—changes that must happen sooner rather than later. The concept of designating a second language as the official language is difficult to comprehend, yet it will likely persist until someone in power takes action to change it.
And in case you were still wondering—the college student in this story was indeed the writer of this article.
Very well done Hareem Noor.