Basic purpose of education is
transmission of knowledge. Education may be conservative or revolutionary it
depends on method of transmission of knowledge. If it transmits already
discovered knowledge it is conservative but it becomes revolutionary if it
transmits knowledge that can meet the needs of ever changing challenges of
mankind. In our country education provided to the youth is conservative whereas
our country situation needs revolutionists. In order to generate revolutionists,
we need to change our attitude from conservative to creative thinking in
education.
One of the most of the charges against our education system is that it
discourages the independent thinking and suppresses the creative ability of
students. Every student has an inborn creative ability and education nourishes
it. Some people believe that creativity can’t be taught at schools. Although
creativity is innate gift but it needs practice, encouragement and intuition in
order to avail this God blessed gift in a meaningful way. And these things are
only possible at educating institutes. According to Sir Eric Rabkin, (an English
professor at University of Michigan) says,
“Creativity can be taught but it can’t be taught equally effectively to
everyone.”
Teaching should be a journey of discoveries rather than transmitting
information. In our country, teachers are neither transmitting knowledge in its
true sense nor nourishing the innate creative abilities of students. They are
doing their duties just as formalities and their basic aim is to earn their
livelihood. Here students are taken as empty pots to be filled with facts,
theorems and formulae instead of harnessing their creative abilities.
The concept of creative thinking is puzzling and conflicting in Pakistan since
its educational system includes both Islamic values and ongoing effect of
British colonialism. It is important to mention here that Pakistanis are
creative nation. Pakistanis have well known heritage in creativity like Allama
Iqbal, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Khursheed Anwar, Bapsi Sidwa, Faiz Ahmad Faiz,
sadqain, chughtai and many more. Pakistan has pool of creativity as its 85
million of total population is youth and youth has creative minds. Question
arises then why creative thinking is being neglected in Pakistan? According to a
researcher Mustafa,
“Pakistani schools lack creative activities which can stimulate imagination and
help to process information and interpret events.”
Few other factors which cause neglection of creativity at Pakistani schools are;
large sizes classes, lack of resources, untrained teachers, fixed syllabus and
external examination bodies.
Development of creative thinking depends on system of education, institutions
environments, teaching method and most importantly interest of student and
society behavior. A teacher plays key role in this proceeding.
Education systems established so far in our country failed to meet the needs of
creative thinking. If we want change in our country we need to develop habit of
creative thinking in our students. For this purpose such education system should
be established that impart education in its true sense rather than imparting
information to the students or filling the empty pots with facts and must be
capable of furnishing pupils inborn creative abilities. And it must have
capability to produce discoverer instead of position holders or professionals
with excellent grades.
Another major problem that demolishes the creative thinking in student is fixed
syllabus. Syllabus must be revised according to need of time. There should be
self test activities related to syllabus as these enhance the habit of creative
thinking in students.
Student behaviors and their school of thought are largely affected by
institutions environment. Creative environment enhances the student interest and
provide them chance to utilize their creative abilities. Creative environment
should be maintained in all institutes as it makes the students habitual of
creative thinking. Only creative environment can harness and promote creative
thinking and problem solving approach among the students and generate
professionals with leading vision. And it must arrange creative activities that
enhance imagination and creativity. While performing creative activities,
students learn team work, mutual co-operation and these also enhance the social
interaction among students.
Teaching method should be capable of guiding the students towards creative
thinking instead of bookish learning. To harness the pool of creativity
available in youth of Pakistan, the teaching method should be shifted from
bookish learning to experimental learning that will expose the students to
practical problems and train them to design effective solutions through
pro-activeness and creativity. And in this way an institute can play a positive
analytical role in community welfare and development. Well trained teachers
should be employed who have leading vision because teachers with conservative
minds could not produce discoverer or revolutionist.
If someone starts a small business after qualifying special degree, our society
discourages it instead of encouraging and starts arguing about joblessness
present around in our country. In this way we demolish the creative abilities of
such students. We want change in our country but eternally we are against it. In
this fast going time only change is constant. And change is only possible by
harnessing the creativity of our youth. We thought this little business is
nothing but in fact these little efforts are driving forces behind the change
and ultimately development. We should appreciate the resolve of these people if
they do something by themselves. We are habitual of spoon feeding and we want
our new generation to be spoon feeders instead of appreciating their creative
works. We need to change our attitude towards our youth. Our government must
establish such a system of education that fulfill the demands of today and lead
our country towards development instead of crisis and crimes. Vocational centers
should be established in different areas specially, in far off areas of our
country. Provision of technical education should be ensured as technical
education enhances the habit of creative thinking. And the students after
getting short term diplomas in computer courses, painting, embroidery etc will
be able to earn their livelihood and will play important role in economy of
country also. Crimes level can be decreased by this strategy. In short,
creativity is the key to the education in its true sense and to the major social
and economical problems we are facing today in way of development.