R O N I Nammar yasir’s personal blog

If you are a regular follower of the Pakistani blogosphere and main stream media, chances are that you might have come across these three stories (fake degree scandal, fox calling Pakistan pornistan and a heartbreaking rape incident of a nursing student). It’s amazing how the three stories that appear completely different to each other are one way or the other correlated.

Starting off with the fox news story, which claims that Pakistan tops the google chart when it comes to ‘Sexy Searches’ (Though personally speaking I find nothing sexy about horse sex). Frankly speaking the standard of journalism Fox News is infamous for, its special love for Pakistan and the Muslim world over the years and Google’s disassociation with the fox story takes away our special internet achievement. But I am sure folks around the world might have a good laugh on the story and our sexy (pervert is the correct word) nature. But does it take away the fact; that some of us actually make these searches or watch porn of similar genre (scary thought)? I think not, it actually signifies another attribute of our hypocritical nature. Like banning facebook, youtube and even Wikipedia but no such order against porn sites, I wonder why?

The Second story that continues to receive maximum media coverage is the fake degree scandal. The scandal reaffirms the value of education in our society and (lack of intellect) in our ruling class. Despite they invest millions in their election campaigns; the only investment they ever made in education department was acquiring a fake degree. Those who follow the budget speech every summer are aware of Governments annual spending on education (conveniently 3% or less of the total). It pretty much explains the literacy rate of this country. Not only that our rulers want us to remain illiterate, majority of us have hardly made any sincere efforts in getting quality or any education for that matter. Fact!

Last and the most heart breaking story is the tragic rape incident of a trainee nurse. I sadly witnessed the news when it first aired on a local channel. It was an exclusive video clip where the poor rape victim (rape survivor hopefully) was being brought to the hospital ward for treatment. In a 30 second video clip the cameraman found his professional obligation in zooming into rape victim’s wounded face and other injuries apparent on her body. It was the most painful sight ever; I wonder why the media squad present on the scene didn’t feel the same? The appalling coverage didn’t end here, every day onwards there is a video clip of the injured rape victim on every Pakistani channel. By now every Pakistani recognizes her face. The only object that sometime protects her from the embarrassment is her oxygen mask. Allegedly there are doctors who raped her and the hospital administration that ignored her genuine harassment complaints, now the same administration fails to protect her from unwanted visitors and media coverage.

The society where we live in, its A-Ok if the name or face of a rape victim is made public. Everyone knows that Mukhtara Mai or Dr. Shazia was raped but nobody can recall the faces or even names of the offenders who carried out this inhuman act. Deep down the perversion that we all embrace, negates the severity of a crime like rape. The lack of education that we all are so proud of, disregards the inhumanity in broadcasting rape victims while getting medical treatment. But God forbid if it happens to a member of your family, will you still allow it to broadcast?

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Does School, colleges and universities really stop you from thinking big? Are they preparing you for an office job when you can aim higher and think way bigger? Let’s first hear 17 year old APICTA and Pasha Award winner Zayd Inam who according to some, is Pakistan’s Steve Jobs in the making.

So this young man believes that schools play a good part in killing innovation, as they are always about exams, grades and assignments. Knowledge is essential but without practical implications, an individual will lend up with an average job in some office. Now, something that took me 16 years of formal education and 2 years of working experience to understand came naturally to Zayd. It got me thinking about the number of courses that I took at school, colleges or at university level that never ever helped me in anyway, I am sure you share a similar experience. Now if you take those credit hours and subtract them with your educational period, the number that comes out will surprise you or make you angry in my case.

When I put up the same question on twitter, I got many interesting answers. Munir Usman (MVP and Entrepreneur) who by degree is a telecom graduate but pursued his career in the software industry. On my question, whether schools are responsible for killing innovation among students, replied:

“Ideally they are not meant to kill innovation, but looking down at the quality of local education. They are not only killing innovation but are responsible for destroying a good amount of time of the students. Instead of giving proper education to help innovation, they waste time and money in useless courses and activities, as a result students end up doing Ratta (memorizing course lectures) for exams.

When I asked Sabahat Zakariya the same question, she gave quite an interesting reply:

Schools only have meaning when an extremely rare teacher not yet jaded by the system and the administration comes and inspires you. All schools care about are grades for they are quantifiable, abstractions have no meaning in a school ’system’.

On my question to Sabhat and Shahrzad (teacher from Iran) on how we can improve this situation in schools, their reply was:

Stop nurturing mediocrity in faculty. Stop ostracizing teachers with opinions, passion and a voice – Sabahat

Students should be motivated to discover, arousing sense of yearning to learn instead of giving them some formulas to pass the exams- Shahrzad

During my initial experience at work, I met a business man who used to teach entrepreneurship at Pakistan’s top business school; IBA. According to him once an individual passes early 20’s the chances of becoming an entrepreneur almost diminishes and sadly these top business schools are not making leaders but labors. This was a very strong statement coming from a teacher who was very much involved in the business market. On my question to Munir on whether Universities should encourage or teach entrepreneurship at graduation level, his reply was:

Yes the course should be mandatory in every degree but the million dollar question is, who will teach this subject? Most teachers won’t qualify to teach this subject

Muhammed Nawaz (IT Consultant) coined following views on the same question:

Yes Of course they should. One thing important to understand is whether they consider self confidence a virtue or taboo Self confidence raises the chances of people actually taking decisions in their own hands and doing what’s right for them. At the same time, ensuring that with all this virtue comes the aspect of responsibility So when they take a decision, they know what the impact of their decision would be. Accordingly take a step forward.

So if Schools are not doing their jobs right why the parents are desperate to enroll their children in the most expensive of schools. But can you blame them for doing so? Their aim for getting their children admitted in popular schools is to get an admission in a good college or a renowned university, so their children end up with a secure future and a job that pays off well at the end of every month. Not every family can afford an entrepreneur in their house; somebody has to pay mortgage on regular basis. So it’s more about economics then learning or getting education.

Conclusion:

Dropping off from college or Universities is not a preferred option, not every kid is as bright as Zayd or Steve Jobs for that matter. A lot of us might start off slow but end up being a successful individual and professional. Having said that there should be a regular check on the curriculum of college and universities, considering the dropping standards of local educational boards like HEC. The need of having a quality educational body has become inevitable. This independent body will work like a bridge between educational institutes and business market.

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Okay tonight I have decided to write a sentimental post. After all I am writing after a very long time and the day I have chosen is the night before my birthday. I am sure not many are interested to know why I have been away from my blog. I blame twitter or micro blogging, as its serving my interest. I twit my views on sports, politics, technology, love/hate, current affairs which if related to Pakistan has something to do with terrorism (how unfortunate).

Anyways today I took some time out to scribble my rusty quill. If I look back at my non celebrity life it has been a mixture of kabhi khushi kabhi gham. But God has always been there for me with a torch light showing that there still some way about of all my troubles. I started my career with a slave wage despite the telecom degree which I worked really hard for. I still remember those three days when I was stuck at work (Benazir assassination days) with very little food and water to survive on. I often slept on the floor of that office during my night shifts. I ain’t any billionaire today nor do I have huge achievements under my belt. But today when I look back at the little achievements I have made (little for others and big for myself) I have a mix bag of feelings, I wonder if it’s really worth waiting, struggling and fighting for? Is it really worth to lose some to gain some?

One has to wait till the end of the show to find that out I guess…

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Ab kyoon us din ka zikar karo
Jab dil tukray ho jaaey ga
Aur saaray gham mitt jaaeingay
Jo kuchh paaya kho jaaega
Jo mil na saka, voh paaeingay
Yeh din to wuho pehla din hai
Jo pehla din thhaa chaahat ka
Hum jiss ki tamanna kartay rahay
Aur har dum jiss say dartay rahay
Yeh din to kitnee baar aaya
Saw baar basay aur ujarr gaey
Saw baar lutay aur phir paaya

Ab kyoon us din ki fikar karo
Jab dil tukray ho jaaega
Aur saaray gham mitt jaaengay
Tum khauf-o-khatar say dar guzro
Jo hona hai, so hona hai
Gar hansna hai to hansna hai
Gar rona hai to rona hai
Tum apni karni kar guzro
Jo hoga daikha jaaega
Jo hoga daikha jaaega

Kuddos to Maleeha for doing complete justice to the song and singing it so beautifully

Check out the song here

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