Absence of Research Culture

 

Human existence has been characterized by uncertainty from its inception. Paradoxically, suspicions and doubts have proven to be a blessing in disguise, driving humans to explore diverse problem-solving approaches. Research is a systematic methodology employed by humans to address their problems. The modern world utilizes research to enhance quality of life, develop materials, and generate new knowledge across various disciplines.

Regrettably, research remains underappreciated in government institutions in Pakistan. Despite occasional acknowledgments of research's significance by authorities, evaluation and research efforts in these institutions remain dormant. School Education Department (SED) Balochistan bears responsibility for provision of educational services in the province. So, as part of its standard practices, the SED initiates and implements programs to meet departmental requirements. However, once implemented, these programs are rarely evaluated to assess their functionality or impact.

The SED Balochistan introduced English language textbooks at the primary level, aligning with the recommendations of the National Education Policy 2009. The rationale behind introducing English from class one onwards was to enable government school students to read English from early classes, thereby bridging the gap with private school students. However, when introducing this program, the SED had not conducted any prior research or needs analysis in schools. Furthermore, most primary-level teachers at that time lacked adequate qualifications, with the majority holding only matriculation certificates, which hindered their ability to effectively teach English textbooks in their classrooms. Conversely, the SED failed to evaluate how primary teachers perceived the change or the challenges they encountered in delivering classroom instructions. Even if any individual or academic studies have been conducted in this regard, they may hold little or no importance for the department. Consequently, many senior teachers continue to struggle with teaching English books in their classrooms.

The introduction of the Balochistan Compulsory Education Act (2014) was a pivotal step towards bridging existing gaps and fostering cooperation between schools and communities. Furthermore, the Act facilitated decentralization by providing funds at the cluster level and empowering high school head teachers as Drawing and Disbursement Officers (DDOs). Nevertheless, subsequent to the empowerment of cluster heads and fund allocation to clusters, no comprehensive evaluation studies were undertaken to assess the initiative's impact or investigate the challenges and concerns faced by both cluster heads and school heads. The concerns of the stakeholders typically surface in educational workshops and seminars, where DDOs periodically express concerns regarding unequal fund allocation for their clusters on behalf of SED. Likewise; School heads commonly lament the lack of fair support from DDOs, citing inadequate resource provision for their schools.

Continuous Professional Development is a new program to be implemented by the SED through the Provincial Institute for Teacher Education (PITE. With the implementation of CPD, teachers of various categories will receive professional training and refresher courses on annual basis. It is expected that the SED will not consider and carry out CPD as a traditional routine practice. Rather, as CPD is an ongoing process, it should be accompanied by needs analysis and evaluations at various phases to meet the professional needs of school teachers in the province.

Regrettably, research is undervalued in our institutions, resulting in negligible funding allocations. Even when budgets are allocated, capacity constraints hinder utilization. To break this cycle, the SED must prioritize research by allocating sufficient funds and establishing research units in its sub-departments with qualified personnel. Investing in research will enable the SED to identify best practices, address systemic challenges, and inform policy reforms. Alternatively, the SED can leverage collaboration with the private sector and academia to evaluate the effectiveness of ongoing or future programmes. This collaborative approach will promote evidence-based decision-making, ultimately improving educational outcomes in the province.