DRL ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRAMER'S CALL ON MINISTER OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 001745 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREL KPAO PK SUBJECT: DRL ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRAMER'S CALL ON MINISTER OF EDUCATION 1.(SBU) Summary: Citing determination to make up for "lost years" under the Musharraf government, Education Minister Ahsan Iqbal outlined during DRL A/S Kramer's April 21 visit a series of structural changes for Pakistan's basic education system, and asked for U.S. strategic and operational support for democratic institutions. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Iqbal commented that DRL had been an ally of Pakistan's opposition during "difficult moments, years of suffering" since President Musharraf took power in 1999. He blamed Musharraf for the rise of extremist parties; the military government's obsession with resisting the challenge from moderates, he said, created a power vacuum enabling "fringe forces" to gain undue influence. Musharraf tried to create a "smokescreen" by portraying himself as the last defense against extremism, but "the alternative to Musharraf was never extremism, it was democracy," Iqbal said. ¶3. (SBU) A/S Kramer said the USG considers it vitally important to support Pakistan's security, economic stability, and democratic institutions all together, and asked Iqbal what we should do to help. The Minister's first answer, in keeping with his new portfolio, was that support for education would be the best contribution. He praised the U.S. public school system for creating a more egalitarian society, and said Pakistan needs to replace the current stratified system with its huge gap in quality between private schools for wealthier children and the choice poor families face among sub-standard public schools, madrassas (religious schools),or no education at all. In his own constituency in Punjab, the country's most prosperous province, 40 percent of communities lack public girls' high schools, 70 percent of public high schools have no science labs, and 90 percent do not have computer labs. ¶4. (SBU) Under then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Iqbal played a leading role in the "Vision 2010" plan for Pakistan, which among other things called for computer networking of high schools nationwide. He was hopeful that USAID's $90 million Links to Education (ED-LINKS) program, which includes upgraded technology for secondary schools, may help that effort. He added that the government may pursue public-private partnerships with technology companies to provide and maintain hardware and software at a subsidized rate. The Minister noted the lack of vocational training opportunities, pointing out that there are more medical colleges than training programs for paramedics and more engineers graduating than technicians. ¶5. (SBU) He lamented the lack of teacher recruitment over the past 15 years, citing a doubling of the student-teacher ratio as a factor in the high dropout rate. He spoke practically about the goal of universal primary enrollment, recognizing that the public school system currently does not have capacity to absorb the estimated 4 million unenrolled children, but said the government's goal is to have facilities and recruitment in place to reach 100 percent enrollment by 2010. ¶6. (SBU) He also talked about the need for curriculum reform to turn away from rote learning and teach creativity, critical inquiry, and teamwork. On the sensitive subject of reforming madrassas (an issue where the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Education share jurisdiction) to broaden and standardize curriculum, he said the whole education system, not just madrassas, will need an overhaul. He said any reforms will have to be strategically sequenced and packaged for public acceptance. Again he blamed Musharraf, who he said devoted 90 percent of his effort to keeping his international allies happy and proving his worth to them. Any reforms Musharraf initiated were seen as part of a U.S. agenda, thus initial attempts to reform madrassas triggered a defensive reaction. Iqbal acknowledged that madrassas, considered teachers of extremism and intolerance, need to offer a broader body of knowledge. He said the government will organize a conference in the coming weeks on how to structure madrassa reform. He mentioned another upcoming conference on minority affairs, involving minority parliamentarians and opinion leaders to prepare an action plan to improve the status of minorities. ¶7. (SBU) He was extremely cautious about possible repeal of blasphemy laws. At first he said the government is too busy working on constitutional legislative issues that will determine the future of the state. He spoke in favor of ensuring that the laws are not misapplied to punish particular people, but said totally striking ISLAMABAD 00001745 002 OF 002 the law would be too controversial for any government to accomplish. ¶8. (SBU) Bio Note: Until his recent appointment as Education Minister, Iqbal was the Information Secretary for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. Wharton-educated, Iqbal has been an eloquent voice for Nawaz Sharif and represents the western technocrat side of the party. ¶9. (U) This message has been cleared by A/S Kramer. PATTERSON