A Study of Critical Thinking as a Mainstream Pedagogical Problem in Pakistan: The State of The Art

Abstract

Critical thinking is an ability of a person to think clearly and logically. There is a traditional
method of learning which promotes rote learning but as far as modern times are concerned, thinking
critically is important. It helps a person acquire knowledge, improve theories and gain enlightenment.
In Pakistan’s discourse of education, critical thinking is not a practiced art. One can signal the blame
on colonial history as well but the subject matter is more complicated than this. In this study, the
researcher wants to find out the reasons why the country is lagging in critical thinking and why it is a
less established and less practiced fact in Pakistan. Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed will be
taken as a framework to connect the reasons with the causes. Especially, it will be studied how the
banking concept of Education has influenced education and the study will then be related to the
Pedagogy of Pakistan. For the study mixed-method approach has been chosen by the researcher.
Through questionnaires and the mode of the interview, the facts related to critical thinking are
researched. Pieces of evidence collected from the research have proven why the country has not yet
been able to develop a system of education that promotes the ability to think critically. And it has
been recommended that critical thinking must be made part of the education of the country at every
level.