The Incident of September 11 (2001) & its Socio Political Implications on Pakistan

Abstract The paper identifies major changes in educational policies in Pakistan after the incident of September 11. It hoards the facts on the attack of September 11(2001) that had no direct link with Pakistan, but has changed the spectrum of regional policies and shifted the traditional way of learning with west-led agenda on the name of international standards. The study indicates major changes and shifts in the education policies and national curriculum as well as amendments in legal framework and laws including 18th Constitutional Amendment of 2010 and Article-25A of the Constitution of Pakistan. The struggle for uniform education system by various political and military governments throughout the history of Pakistan since independence is also scooped and a comprehensive view is provided on major policy changes and its impacts on education system in Pakistan. The research is based on analysis of primary and secondary sources of information. It is a mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Pakistan as a State still is in the list of developing countries and struggling with internal and external problems and their effects caused hurdles in the process of development and reforms in various sectors including education. Security remained one of the major subjects of focus for Pakistan for last many decades along with other administrative matters. The matters including economy, infrastructure development and strengthen democratic system in with democratic or dictator led governments whichever was the case of administration continued tackling with security and terrorism within the state as a top priority issue since 9/11. Pakistan’s investment on education sector remained poor in which resulted lagging behind of the country in all major development indicators. Education remained the core subject that bough up revolution in 21st century and hence has acquired greater importance around the world. After 18th Amendment, the duty of satisfactory spending on education consequently dwells with each province to have the capacity to satisfy Pakistan's national and international duties regarding education. The research encompassed efforts of Pakistan’s administration during various eras on national and international level to meet requirements of international standard education policies.

Teachers Perceptions of Quality and Quality Management Systems at Higher Education Level in Pakistan.

The basic purpose of conducting this study was to explore teachers‟ “perception” of quality and quality management systems at higher education level in Pakistan, by giving a deep focus upon a case of a public sector university of Pakistan „The Karakoram International University Gilgit-Baltistan‟. The basic objectives of the study were to investigate teachers‟ perceived understanding of academic quality a concept, theory and practice in their existing teaching practice at university level and to know, how their perception of quality are being articulated in the university practices by managing quality management systems and formulating the appropriate measures to improve the academic quality in the university. And further to designing a proposed roadmap of quality management system for the university of focus in particular and to all public university of Pakistan in general. The research conducted by using Qualitative Research Method and case study approach of qualitative research design. The purposive sampling techniques were used to identify a sample, and a representative sample was identified relating to the purpose and criteria for the sample of this study from the overall population of the case. Semi-structured interview guide and focused group discussion tools were used mainly to collect the data from the sample of the study. Researchers‟ field notes of observation and written reflections about the everyday experience of field visits were also used as data. The data was transcribed and categorized by creating relevant codes from the repeated expressions of the data. The selected codes were merged into relevant themes to formulate main findings of the study that addressed the objectives. Each theme was then analyzed separately and got the meaning from their expressions and elaborated their perceptions into a discussion and extracted the finding of this study. The study identifies a clear lack of quality meaning and understanding of the concept among the staff. Even though a quality enhancement cell was functioning as matter of obligation from the HEC, but majority of teachers are not even aware of its‟ basic function and significance. The study finds out a huge confusion of quality management with other aspects of teachers‟ professional competencies i.e. Knowing of content information and delivering it to students in the classroom. Majority of the participants of this research were not aware about the basic purpose and the concept of „academic quality management systems‟ in a university to make sure the quality of university teachers‟ performance, as accordance with the certain acceptable standards. Based on the literature review and findings of this study a structure of quality management system is proposed to improve the quality management functions at the public universities in Pakistan.