- The time has come
By: Hafsa Mustansar
The famous words of Sidney Pressey about improving the scope of education sector are worth considering now, amidst the covid-19 pandemic: “There must be an industrial revolution in education in which education science and the ingenuity of educational technology combines to modernize the grossly inefficient and clumsy procedures of conventional education.”
He describes through his statement, which he made in 1924, that it is high time to revolutionize the old clumsy conventional education system by transforming the whole paradigm of the educational sector with the help of creative educational technology.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is a unity of physical, digital and biological spheres. The epoch of the Fourth Industrial Revolution improves the living standard at exponential rate. The world’s great powers that are already taken a boost from this revolution are becoming more advanced day by day. It has created great influence even in the economic sector of the First World’s countries. With the help of technologies in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, people are not afraid even about the hazards posed by natural calamities. From online flight booking to online food orders, folks are dependent on the fast-paced technologies, that are swiftly demanding the easy replacement of the human workforce, and these are deeply embedded in the people lives nowadays.
To hitch up the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Pakistan, we may encourage the use of fast-paced technologies in every aspect of life, especially in the field of education. The field of education must include and absorb the Fourth Industrial Revolution as an addition in their educational spectrum on an urgent basis to make the difference. This revolution is a unique opportunity for the education sector to rethink about the communicative, collaborative skills-based education at least at the tertiary level. The education system in Pakistani society is already debilitated and in the dire situation. Taking the great leap with the help of technological harnessing in the field of education in the future is indispensable.
With the help of government and collaboration of the World Economic Forum, we can get online trainings and equip ourselves with the soft skills as well as technical skills needed. It is rightly said by experts, researchers and analysts the Fourth Industrial Revolution requires the curriculum to teach the kids be changed. If as a developing country we are not able to change our education system swiftly we should consider this at least at the tertiary level of education, where students supposed to get education in order to prepare themselves for the professional fields
The question arises how we can rightly use this revolution in our educational system. The society of Pakistan, that lacks basic education with essential skills, still is not up to the required global standard. As the lockdown is being observed throughout the world, students are restricted to their homes due to the fear of covid-19 spreading. Their basic necessity (to get education) is being neglected due to the absence of any long-term policy regarding the smooth running of education system in unprecedented times. National education policies relevant to the Fourth Industrial Revolution must be fabricated to leap into the future. The boost or boom of technology here and now demands a technologically oriented career. Globally, students are paying heed to pursue their future in science and technology, and mathematical subjects, to keep themselves relevant to the growing trends of the world.
In the time of rat race, technical as well as soft skills are highly required to raise the soft image of the country. For the attainment of this aspiration, concerned institutes need the help of the government. It must try to impart training and technological skills by opening centres or institutes in every district. The curricula must be revised so that they contain an element of critical thinking, problem-solving, and talent-driven skills for the growth of students. This should be started from the very basic level of education.
As the pharmaceutical industries have taken lead due to the right use of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it should be utilized in other industries too. In Pakistan universities have been established that have wholly structured their teaching system on virtual online classes even be3fore the current pandemic, the Virtual University and the Allama Iqbal Open University. As no one exactly knows when this state of siege will be over, to continue the education system there is a dire need to start virtual online classes, online exams taking, and checking facilities. When every field is working up to the mark because of technological use in certain fields, robotics science is paving the way folr robots to take the place of humans.
For the attainment of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the educational sector, we should thus provide the students the necessary support for the approach of technical skills, creativity and critical thinking, and empower them to find solutions based on their assumptions and analysis. Through this approach they become self-sufficient and it will develop a sense of confidence in them. The World Economic Forum that coined this term, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, provides sufficient support to the passionate people that are ready to leap and want to make their mark in the world. With the help of government and collaboration of the World Economic Forum, we can get online trainings and equip ourselves with the soft skills as well as technical skills needed. It is rightly said by experts, researchers and analysts the Fourth Industrial Revolution requires the curriculum to teach the kids be changed. If as a developing country we are not able to change our education system swiftly we should consider this at least at the tertiary level of education, where students supposed to get education in order to prepare themselves for the professional fields.
The writer can be reached at [email protected]
