Pakistan invests significant resources in English education — it is a required subject from first grade through university. Yet the results are disappointing: the majority of graduates cannot communicate effectively in English. The system needs structural changes, not just better textbooks.
Speaking must become part of assessment. Currently, English exams are almost entirely written. Students who can write grammatically correct sentences pass — even if they cannot speak a single coherent paragraph. Adding mandatory speaking assessments would force schools to teach speaking, not just writing.
Teacher training needs a revolution. English teachers need to be fluent speakers themselves. This requires investment in teacher training programs that focus on spoken English, not just pedagogy. A teacher who cannot demonstrate natural English pronunciation cannot teach it.
Move from grammar-first to communication-first. Modern language teaching research shows that communication-focused methods produce better results than grammar-first approaches. Students learn grammar naturally through meaningful communication, not by memorizing rules in isolation.
Technology can bridge gaps. Online resources, apps and video content can provide the immersion that Pakistani classrooms lack. Students can access native speaker content, practice with AI conversation partners, and attend online classes with qualified teachers — all at low or zero cost.
Small group classes must become the norm. The traditional 40-student classroom is incompatible with language learning. Reducing class sizes to 8 to 12 students would allow every student to speak in every class — the single most important factor in language acquisition.
Organizations like LEWS Academy are demonstrating what effective English education looks like: small groups, speaking-focused classes, personal feedback and modern methods. The challenge is scaling these approaches to reach the millions of Pakistani students who need them. Shaista's vision is to prove that a different model works — and inspire broader change across the education system.
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