asma Liaqat 2

HOW TO BUILT A RESEARCH CULTURE IN PAKISTAN?

BY ASMA LIAQUAT*

Research is a systematic and refined technique of thinking, employing specialized tools, instrument and procedure in order to obtain a more adequate solution of a problem than would be possible under ordinary situation. It starts with a problem, collection of data or fact, critical analysis and research techniques based on actual evidence. It involves organized work instead of a more exercise of personal opinion. It evolves a genuine desire to know rather than a desire to prove something. It is quantitative, seeking to know not only what but how much and measurement is therefore a center feature of it.

Development must be conceived as a multi-dimensional process involving major change in social structure and nation wide institution. Pakistan is an underdeveloped state of South Asia. More than five decades have passed, but Pakistan is still an under developed country.

AREAS OF CONCERN FOR PROMOTING CULTURE

1. Promote the Culture of Education

The first effort should be to promote the culture of education. In Pakistan, there are numerous problems and obstacles in the educational path to keep pace with the advancement in the field of education. Hence, there is a special need to give a new orientation in the system of education with special focus on improving primary level education. In this context, a syllabi revision committee should be constituted with the mandate of reviewing the syllabi of primary level classes. We accept the general assumption that the role of school is to prepare students for effective living in our society. So the curriculum designed should strive to achieve this goal.

2. Develop the reading habit

" Progress may be slow but never give up on a kid who is not reading. A love of reading is the greatest gift you can give to your child better than a private degree from Harvard.

Where Students are not at all interested in reading. The fact is that students simply do not want to read other than their specific syllabi. When they are asked to choose reading material from the library, they invariably pick the thinnest book they can find. How can we make them realize that the world of reading is wide enough and beyond text book, biographic, jokes, books mysteries, science and fiction. I personally think that parents can play a vital role in developing reading habit among their children.

3. Proper Environment

With all of above consideration taken into account a proper environment is very essential for achieving any target. Because Research needs a standard of style. So the researcher must have a proper environment: physical as well as psychological.

4. Research Institutions

Research institutions should be established. In academic setting, comprehensive and complicated research project are possible only by fitting many individual research projects into more comprehensive research design and all together feasible undertaking in an education system. Teamwork can play a vital role in research institution.

5. Role of Experts

In order to bring about the desired change in the teacher's attitude towards student's education a new teaching methodology should be implemented. It could be a major shift from theoretical to practical. This new teaching approach will be very helpful in professional development and personality development of a student.

6. Education of research at school level

No one can deny the effective role of schooling because it is the primary step of leaning. So references, reading material or other sources should be used at school level and given some guideline about research method. In this way all such efforts can create a capacity to work hard, patience, persistence and inquisitiveness optimism.

7. Role of Politicians Government officials

All these people will have to work through different strategies in order to built better relations with other nation, because the expansion of Information Technology (IT) is widening the gap between most developed as well as developing countries. IT has opened new doors for educational methods, which are and will be absolutely different than their traditional system of campus classes cyber space, video, conferencing system. Tele transfer of huge amount of data will bring a gargantuan change in the philosophy of learning science.

8. Marketing of Research

The most important element in promoting research culture is " Marketing of Research" and research carried out through different sources. A company or business form can obtain marketing research by employing students or professors to carry out the project and they can give them some amount or salary, which can be quite helpful in promoting Research.

9. Decision marketing system

Research will be more effective if it is effectively integrated in the decision-making system.

10. Role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

Researchers should contact some NGOs and other multinational co-operation to seek funds for their research. Many multinational companies are very interested in embarking on research projects with the support of University researchers.

11. Government's role

The government can play a vital role in the regard for promoting research by taking following steps:-