Self reliance or western reliance?

By Ihtisham Ur Rehman

As a former colonized nation, we are so much dependent on foreign textbooks, teachers, experts and trainings that we feel ashamed of local languages, experts, textbooks and trainers.

While having my term paper on post-colonialism, I came across a research essay by Phillip. G. Altbach, ‘Education and Neocolonialism’ where he argues that although colonialism has ended but it is quite open and obvious, such as the distribution of foreign texts and experts in the schools of a developing country. It is, however, generally more subtle and includes the use of foreign technical advisors on the policy of administrative models and curricular patterns. They rely on foreign teachers in their colleges and schools who inculcate foreign/Western values in children.

While thinking about it, some questions arise in my mind. Some of them include: 1. Do we really rely on foreign experts and their services? 2. Are the locals capable of doing something productive or not? 3. Do the foreigners inculcate foreign/western values among the students? 4. Do these foreign experts, as they claim to be, produce experts in different fields who inherit those traits and credentials which these foreigners posses?

In the first place, according to my humble opinion, we don’t need foreign services, though we need foreign textbooks. Let’s take Chitral as an area of analysis.

We have two major schools in Chitral – The Langland School and College and the Aga Khan Higher Secondary School. The former established by a foreigner, Mr. Langlands and the latter by the self-help of the locals using the funds allocated by AKDN.

When we compare the achievements of both the schools, we see the Aga Khan Higher Secondary School has achieved much more than The Langlands School and College in terms of medical seats, engineering, foreign alumni and other programs, etc. To the second question, ‘yes’ the locals are capable of doing anything.

The Aga Khan Higher Secondary School is a community-based school and hasn’t been in any problem till its establishment. While being a foreign funded school, The Langlands School and College has been in constant problems and controversies for the last decade. Why? The establishment and the survival (in positive way) depend on the head of an institution. And having a local as well as an honest head is a luxury and has its own positive ends. And besides all this, the locals can understand their problems better than a foreigner.

When Ms. Carey Schofield took over the office as the principal of The Langlands School, she was very optimistic and positive in making the school a perfect one. She increased the salaries of the teachers (on the expanse of increase in the school fee) and promised a reliable future in the form of proper education to the students. So she hired foreign teachers as well to teach in the school. These teachers, according to sources, were all below 25 years and had completed their schools recently in European academies. Two of them were teenagers.

They came here to teach! But what? English language! But none of them was teachers of English language or literature. Teaching English as a language is a different approach while being a native speaker is a different thing. The native speakers who have full command over English when the pursue English Language Teaching (ELT) or Teaching of English as Foreign Language (TEFL), they spend years to accomplish the field of language teaching. But does it make sense recruiting ‘tender and delicate’ students of different disciplines to teach English in Pakistan? Same is the case with Carey Schofield. Wikipedia gives a brief introduction of Ms. Carey, which is: “Carey Schofield, British newspaper correspondent and military writer, author of Inside the Soviet Army and The Russian Elite, and current head of Langland’s School and College in northern Pakistan.” It doesn’t mention that she is an educationist though a writer or an expert on war, and being writer and an expert on war is quite different thing than being an expert of education.

To the third question, Philip. G Altbach in his essay claims that ‘yes they do inculcate foreign values’. Chitral is full with local folklores and they are as powerful and inspirational as the western literature or folklores. Last year, in the school they performed a play, named, Peter Pan, by J.M. Barrie, in spite of the handiness of Chitrali folklores. It can be claimed that the purpose of performing an English play might be the improvement of English language. But, can English language be improved by performing an English play?

According to the process of language acquisition the natural process of acquiring a second language is Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. But we can’t surely say that while performing a play this process can be followed. Because the main focus, while performing a play, is the performance. But when we compare Aga Khan Higher Secondary School with The Langlands School and College we can see a clear difference.

They try to inculcate local values and traditions among the students. So far, as language, both spoken and written, is concerned the students of former mentioned school is much better than those of the later one. The interesting and humorous as well as serious part of that play was that it was performed before an audience who don’t understand English language at all. Grasping the theme and the message of the play is far beyond expectations. Because majority of the mothers were illiterate and those who were literate they can hardly understand English at all. So far as the production of leaders is concerned, the locals have produced more leaders as compared to foreigners. Langland spent decades in Chitral as the principal of the school, but when he left there wasn’t anyone to run the school.

Then he hired Ms. Carey as the principal, but after two years of her career her visa was not extended, so she couldn’t come. Now the teachers are craving for her return (for personal benefits) but they look divided in the struggle. To suffice it we can say that, if Langland or Carey had been sincere and potential to give in return they would have produced people like themselves who can run the school. But unfortunately, they couldn’t. Now the teachers (residues) are fighting for the control of the school on the expanse of the future of our Children. While the administration of Aga Khan Higher Secondary School can be seen ready for any worse situation. The principal or any administrative of the institution tries his/her best to inculcate leadership qualities in their subordinates, who whenever needed can fill their vacant situations, whether it be the post of principal, teacher, or any kind of administrative position.