A story of Failure SILVER MEDALIST and 40 years old Engineering Student
A 40 years old man seeks bachelor’s admission, becomes an engineer, and a failure courage for re-admission turns up a topper.
Education is a fundamental right of every person and one of the most important components in the growth of any country’s middle-class families. In Pakistan, however, customers of education services, parents, and students, have few options or alternatives for pursuing higher education.
According to the Asian Institute of Research, Pakistan’s higher education system is not among the best in the world in terms of quality. One of the major reasons for the education sector’s poor performance is the stereotype of judging student talent based on CGPs and age group. Our educational system primarily considers years of education in conjunction with age and calculates talent by grades and obtained marks.
Undoubtedly, there are always some people who embrace change by defying the norms with their strength and courage, and others who draw the line outside the box of typical culture.
While looking for such people, a young man Faizan comes up as an example of failing the system of calculating talent with marks as he narrates his journey from failure to success. Syed Faizan Ahmed begins his Master of Business Administration- MBA program in June 2014, and at the same time, a first job opportunity knocks on his door. Therefore, the MBA journey begins with a new job. “All those who are studying while working must be aware of the extra hard work and effort that a student has to put in to complete our studies,” Faizan said. The degree program after the 5 years of the extension ends but he was declared ineligible for a degree award due to a 2.3 CGPA, while a minimum of 2.5 CGPA is required to obtain a degree. This failure hits hard to self-esteem and he retakes the admission after facing some resistance from the university. “That day,” Faizan says, “I made a vow to myself that this time I am going to turn things upside down.” I’ll make a name for myself here, and everyone, including staff, management, and juniors, will remember me as a winner rather than a re-admission label.” Putting uncountable efforts for getting the position in MBA start reflecting by securing the highest CGPA in every semester.” A once-disgruntled re-admissions student is now the highest CGPA holder and Silver Medalist in MBA (HR).
Similarly, Our education system categorizes students based on their age. Most of the universities don’t give admissions to overaged students and limit bachelor’s intake mid 20’s maximum. However, for those with a desire to learn, age is just a number, as a resident of Karachi demonstrates by enrolling in his Bachelor’s degree program at a private engineering university at the age of 40. Like 30% of Pakistanis left their studies due to the financial crisis. After his father’s tragic demise, Wasi ul Hasnain also abandoned his studies to feed and support his family.
He continued on his life’s journey by putting his dreams aside, but luck, passion, and, courage finally came together, and Wasi was offered admission to a B.E program at an engineering university. “No doubt I felt guilty by imagining myself sitting in a class of 20-year-old boys and teachers younger than me,” Wasi said. But my family and colleagues had encouraged me to enter this new phase.”
Wasi discussed his experience. “It was incredible to re-enter engineering university,” I remember the first time I walked into my class and all the students stood up, assuming I was their lecturer, and I rushed to their seats to sit with them. Later on, some called me chacha and uncle, but many saw me as an inspiration and addressed me as Wasi Bhai; some lecturers even call me sir in respect.” Wasi is currently in his final year of BE civil engineering.
However, many Faizans and Wasis in Pakistan’s educational system lack the courage to resume their studies.
Furthermore, as per the views of educationist Dr. Najumunisa (Head of the Education Department-Private University), they always encourage willing students with their test and interview performance regardless of age bracket. Even it has been observed sometimes student who is elder or overaged gives good competition to other classmates because of their high spirit to continue their studies. However, sometimes it also becomes massive to deal with overaged students as elderly life matters and seniority attitude affected their performance. She shared numerous examples of elderly people excelling in the classroom. Concerning retake admission for failed students, Dr. Najmunisa stated, “There is a general perception that if a student did not perform well in the first intake, what’s the guarantee that he or she will perform well in retake admission for the same discipline”.
According to the World Bank, higher education enrollment in Pakistan was reported at 9% in 2018, compared to 26% in India and 48% in China (World Bank, 2018). Pakistan’s government wanted to reach a 15% gross enrolment in Pakistan higher education by 2020, which means Pakistan has failed to meet its higher education sector goals even by 2020.
The inability to compete with other developing countries in the higher education sector due to Pakistan’s low overall enrolment ratio implies insufficient socioeconomic development progress. Although our education system is, still not ready to make education free of any stereotypical restrictions.
However, the age restrictions and failure re-admissions that we have in our education system should be ended to keep the passion and education growing healthier and wider. A systematic change would be required to push back the concept of judgment and aging; otherwise, the cost of these imposed restrictions would be heavily paid in terms of educational system failure.
