One country, two nations - The Express Tribune

Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw attention to a serious but often overlooked issue in Pakistan: the growing inequality in our education system. Education is supposed to provide equal opportunities to every child, regardless of their family background. However, in Pakistan, a child’s future opportunities are increasingly influenced by the financial status of their parents rather than their talent and abilities. Children from elite families have access to modern educational institutions where they learn digital skills, AI, coding, critical thinking and other skills required for the future. In contrast, many children from poor families attend underfunded schools where even basic educational facilities are missing. While one group is being prepared to lead the world of technology, the other is struggling to receive basic education. This creates two different educational realities within one country. Such discrimination does not simply limit individual opportunities; it strengthens social divisions and creates a cycle in which privileged children continue to hold power while disadvantaged children remain dependent on them. A country cannot progress when opportunities are reserved for a particular class. The government must recognise that quality education is not a privilege for the wealthy; it is a fundamental right of every child. It must ensure equal educational standards, modern technology, trained teachers and digital learning facilities in public schools. Every child, whether born into an elite or a poor family, deserves the same opportunity to learn, grow and succeed. Our education system should create equal opportunities, not two different classes of citizens.  Saman Amin Jan Peshawar 

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