Government vs. Private medical colleges in Pakistan

Government vs. Private medical colleges has always been a debate in Pakistan. It is common, during high school training or in preparation for the entrance exam, for students to hear that “a good college is the public one”. Even after being so common, this phrase supports a dangerous myth, which disqualifies private education at the top medical colleges in Pakistan. And the potential of professionals trained by it. If you’re in doubt about which way to go and want to understand how private college vs. Government College is analyzes from the point of view of professionals and organizations, you cannot miss this article.

What differentiates private from Government College?

Government College, as the name implies, is an educational institution owns by the government. It is about the fulfilment of one of the fundamental rights foreseen in our Constitution: access to education. As it is the State’s duty to guarantee the education of all citizens — both in basic and higher education — there must be public education institutions with free access and quality training. All provinces have their own boards and quotas on which the admission process is based upon. To keep the process fair, students can only apply on merit for the universities of their own province. Anyone applying to a government university of a different province can only do so on sponsored seats.

The private college, on the other hand, is a teaching institution maintained by the private sector. This means that, in most cases, it has financial interests and, therefore, the student must pay the monthly fees for the courses. There are, however, incentives. And supervision by the government to ensure that private education is of quality and meets basic requirements of the law. A course that is not certified by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), for example, has no market validity.

Currently, both the sectors have top medical colleges in Pakistan that work tirelessly all year round to pave the way for the future doctors of Pakistan. However, private colleges end up absorbing the largest number of students every year as it is not easy to get into government universities.

Now that you know what differentiates government from private universities, it’s time to analyze the specific characteristics of each.

Teaching quality

Public education in Pakistan is of excellent quality. No wonder that many state and federal institutions dominate the rankings of the best universities. But this is not to say that private education is inferior. Currently, there are many professors who teach at both public and private colleges. In other words, it is not possible to measure the quality of teaching by this criterion alone. In fact, there are private institutions specialized in certain areas that compete for highest ranking of the top medical colleges in Pakistan, even surpassing many public institutions.

Not to mention that, in a private medical colleges, the demands are much higher in relation to professors, which make the faculty to be much more committed than in the public sphere. Teachers also find better opportunities to create a more dynamic class and favor the quality of the teaching offered.

Market opportunities

For those wishing to pursue an academic career, public colleges have an excellent track record, with well-developed lines of research. And a faculty specifically qualified for the area. There is also high government investment in research institutions that use their own professors.

And students from public colleges to work on scientific projects. All of this is perfect for those looking to work more in the theoretical and academic field. For those who wish to pursue other professional opportunities, private education can be an excellent ally, since private institutions have a less theoretical methodology.

And more practical experiences, which directly dialogue with market demands. The most important thing for students from both segments is that they invest in relevant experiences while they are still under graduation — such as internships, participation in congresses, seminars and training courses. This will help them to experience the professional routine and enrich the curriculum in the future.

As mentioned above, both the sectors are well-known for their quality of education and have a number of top medical colleges of Pakistan. Whatever your choice, remember that you are the most responsible for your training. Whether private or public college, you need to work hard to earn your degree and ensure success!

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