About Book

The Problematic Landscape of Pakistan’s K-12 Education and the People Leading the Change Amjad Noorani and Nadeem Hussain Agents of Change is a compilation of thought-provoking insights, opinions, personal stories, and suggested actions for change in the K-12 education system in Pakistan. It validates how good schooling can alleviate poverty and advance societal development through equitable opportunity for quality education. Clear and precise proposals are offered for reforms in the Pakistani context. Thoughtful analyses are based on sound research, conversations in the education community, interviews with experts in the field, and first-hand knowledge of the many challenges in the education system. There is also a Call to Action for broader public support and civic leadership to oversee the reforms. The authors argue that it will take greater public participation and strategic political advocacy to chip away at the problems. The case is made that the TCF* model of quality education and efficient management at a large scale offers a template for improvements in the education system. * The Citizens Foundation (TCF) is a Pakistani non-profit that operates 1,650 schools, including 300 adopted public schools.

About Author

Amjad Noorani retired in 1999 from a physical therapy clinical and consulting practice in California—and enthusiastically plunged right into activism for education reform in Pakistan. The intensity of his efforts has incrementally picked up in recent years, resulting in thoughtful development of a series of detailed reform proposals in this book—and the ‘Call to Action’. He remains closely connected with K-12 education reform through frequent travel to his home country, and his contribution to education forums. Since 2003, he has been associated with TCF and TCF-USA in advisory and leadership positions, and for philanthropic outreach. As lead author, his narrative and analyses are based on extensive personal research, conversations in the education community, interviews with experts in the field, and first-hand knowledge of the challenges within the education system. Nadeem Hussain is an education economist and activist for reform. He has a decade’s experience in the design and implementation of programs for multilateral and global development institutions, including World Bank and UNDP projects for governments of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; not-for-profit organizations – TCF, YCR, IBA-NTHP, and rehabilitation work for urban slums. He has worked with the State Bank of Pakistan leading a team of research enumerators to collect and analyze data on consumer expectations and confidence. Nadeem writes on a range of subjects relating to social issues, poverty, public finance, and urban planning. He is a co-author of a book on Pakistan’s sub-national governance and provincial policy reforms, The Economy of Modern Sindh (OUP, 2019) for which he engaged with nearly 100 business leaders in Pakistan and beyond.