I have worked on a number of films and campaigns around public sector Education in Pakistan. The most prominent one that started it all was Chal Parha, A 24-part primetime series that explored challenges and offered solutions across the public education sector of Pakistan. The show went on to drive legislation and reform in the sector.

Topics/discourses featured

1. Medium of Instruction (establishing regional languages as best MOI)
   

2. Corporal Punishment
   

3. Teacher attendance
   

4. Student attendance/Out of School children
   

5. Textbooks (MOI, regional relevance, quality)
   

6. Curriculum (Islamization of non-religious topics, distortion of history)
   

7. Population (Population growth and lack of resources)
   

8. Vocational Education (Skills-based learning and practical application of education)
   

9. Principals and Educational Leadership (powers/autonomy)
   

10. Political will/ Reform
    

Stakeholders Interviewed

• Teachers, principals
  

• Students
  

• Parents/communities
  

• Linguistic, economic, education experts
  

• Philanthropists/public figures
  

• Top Political leadership (PPP, PML-N, PTI)

  Outcomes
  

• Drove Sindh Assembly Resolution to abolish Corporal Punishment in Schools.
  

• Drove subsequent legislation against corporal punishment in schools in KP and Punjab.
  

• Drove implementation of article 25-A
  

• Introduction and installation of 20 thumb-printing machines in schools in Pakistan, not adopted nationwide.

• Drove implementation of attendance machines across public sector institutions in Pakistan
  

• Drove political will/public assurances by political leadership for educational reform in lead-up to 2013 general elections.

• Promoted Punjab’s Education Roadmap and other campaigns

• Promoted Khyber Pakhthunkhwa’s Education Drive

• Informed public perception on public sector education reforms that led to increased enrolment and public confidence.

• SEE CHAL PARHA EPISODES ON GEO TV YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE