Higher Education in Pakistan A Comparative Study of the Neo.pdfVIP

Journal of Elementary Education A Publication of Deptt. of Elementary Education IER, University of the Punjab, Lahore – Pakistan Vol. 19(1-2) 11-23 Higher Education in Pakistan: A Comparative Study of the Neo-Marxist and Neo-liberal Stance on Higher Education Dr. Khalid Jamil Rawat• ABSTRACT The present article compares the neo-liberal response towards higher education needs and realities in the present times and the neo-marxist reaction to this neo-liberal response. In the present study these two positions are compared and an attempt is made to understand the implications of the propsed higher education reforms in the context of Pakistan. This analysis is done in the background of the major articles written by the thinkers belonging to these two rival schools of thought. The article, in the light of the relevant literature tries to arrive at a realistic position regarding the higher education status in Pakistan. The Context of Reforms With the ascendence of market economy and neo-liberal principles, the need to reform the higher education set up became a priority for the policy makers. The establishment of a free market allowed the neo-liberal thinkers and supporters to coceive human existence either as a consumer or a producer of goods and services in the market. The society , in the eyes of these intellectuals has taken the • Iqra University, Karachi, Pakistan 11 Journal of Elementary Education, 19(1-2) shape of a big market and world has become a global market place. Thus, most of the services provided in the society including health and educat