The Pakistani education system has long struggled with several problems, including inadequate funding, outdated curriculum, poor infrastructure, insufficient teacher training, and political interference. These issues have significantly affected Pakistan's education quality, leading to a widespread lack of literacy and skills among its population. Pakistan needs to formulate an effective education policy to handle these problems.

The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction is called education. Education is a gradual process that positively changes human life and behavior. It enables learners to read, write, speak, think critically, make informed decisions, differentiate right from wrong, communicate effectively, and understand the world's workings. It also enables people to develop their full potential to become successful members of their society. Every nation, therefore, pays due attention to devising the best possible structure of its institutions and opportunities as per available resources to educate its general masses to survive with dignity and honor. Enhancement and advancement in the education system is a continuous process aiming at evolving the best education system to cater to the needs and demands of societies to emerge on a global scale with color. Every education system endeavor to cater to “what to teach, when to teach, and how to teach?” Thus, trends in education mean a general direction in which various education systems are changing or transforming to the best possible form, meeting the challenges of a specific time frame. 
All the nations on this planet agree with the universal saying, “knowledge is power." So, they remain in constant pursuit to evolve the most advanced and progressive system of education for their offsprings to lead and rule the world in coming times. The current list of leading nations in the present-day globe admits their onus of development to their progress in their education system. Advanced countries like the USA, China, Japan, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom; all have admirable education systems in their countries, which play a crucial role in their progress and development. The recent two decades have witnessed the emergence of the education systems of Finland, Japan, and Singapore as the most competing ones among all the top-progressive nations. It, therefore, becomes increasingly fascinating and essential to have an insight into them to get a few guidelines to strengthen Pakistan’s system of education, making it more robust and competitive.

Enhancement and advancement in the education system is a continuous process aiming at evolving the best education system to cater to the needs and demands of societies to emerge on a global scale with color.

The evolution of human history has witnessed several civilizations that emerged as the most powerful nations in their times and then met their downfall. Salient ones include Romans, Egyptians, Greeks, Muslims, and the West (who rule the present-day world). All these nations proved their mettle by dint of their progress in better education standards. Until these nations maintained their relationship with knowledge, they simply led the other nations. These civilizations produced numerous scholars, reformists, educationists, and philosophers who played a significant role in the evolution of more advanced and modern ways of imparting education. The list of these eminent personalities is too long, but the salient ones include Cicero, Horace, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Imam Jaffar Sadiq, Farabi, Ibn-e-Sina, Ibn-e-Khaldoon, Al-Ghazali, J. J. Rousseau, Pestalozzi, Frobel, Herbart, John Dewey, Abraham Maslow, Benjamin Bloom, Barrows, Tamblyn and many more. These educationists, reformists, revolutionists, and philosophers kept the wheel of education in motion by presenting new and newer modes, theories, strategies, and methodologies to meet the challenges of their times, thereby setting and originating new trends in education.
The evolution of educational trends witnessed various approaches during various courses of time. Salient ones include the “traditional approach, progressive approach, modern approach, and post-modern approach.” The traditional approach focused on rote learning, memorization, and recitation. The teacher was seen as the authority figure, and the primary role of students was to listen and absorb information. This teacher-centered approach provides the full authority to a teacher to carry on his instruction in a structured environment presenting psychologically sound subject matter as per the interests, needs, and levels of the students. The progressive approach focused on student-centered and experiential learning. The progressive approach emphasized hands-on learning (learning by doing), collaboration, and critical thinking. This approach was influenced by the work of educational reformers such as John Dewey, Rousseau, and Maria Montessori. Modern approaches emerged with the advent of newer and modern advancements in technology. Modern inventions and discoveries in communication, transportation, and mass media revolutionized the modus operandi in vogue in education, like their impact on other walks of life. The use of computers, the internet, and mobile devices has transformed the way students learn and access information with greater ease and with enormous speed. Technology has also enabled personalized learning, where students can learn at their own pace and receive tailored feedback. Various modes seen to evolve during this evolutionary phase include: competency-based learning, blended learning, social and emotional learning, lifelong learning, personalized learning, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) education, global education and flipped classroom.

Finland is known for its student-centered approach and focus on equity. Japan for its strong emphasis on STEM and STEAM education and exams, and Singapore for its focus on technological innovation and global outlook.

Postmodernism is a philosophical and cultural movement that emerged in the late 20th century. Postmodernism has influenced education in various ways, leading to the development of post-modern trends in education. These post-modern trends in education reflect a shift towards more inclusive, diverse, and socially engaged approaches to education. They challenge traditional assumptions about knowledge, identity, and power, and provide opportunities for students to engage in critical thinking, reflection, and social action. A few characteristic features associated with post-modern trends are deconstruction, social constructionism, multicultural education, critical pedagogy, post-structuralism, student-centered learning, and flexible learning environments. These characteristic features emphasize significantly on the effective use of digitalization (e.g., gadgets like interactive boards, virtual classroom learning, and Google Classroom settings). Moreover, PBL (project-based learning/problem-based learning/phenomenal-based learning) involves students working on projects, problems, or a phenomenon that require them to apply their knowledge and skills to solve real-world problems. This approach fosters creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration, encouraging the use of soft skills or higher order skills or 21st century skills like comprehension, analyzing, reasoning, application, and evaluation.
Advanced countries like the USA, the UK, France, Germany, Israel, and China have well-established and delivering systems of education that are the main reasons for their enormous development and progress in all walks of life. However, the leading ones in the present-day world are the education systems of Finland, Japan, and Singapore. These three countries employ different approaches to education, with unique strengths and challenges. Finland is known for its student-centered approach and focus on equity. Japan for its strong emphasis on STEM and STEAM education and exams, and Singapore for its focus on technological innovation and global outlook. Finland is one of the most beautiful Nordic countries. Finland is famous around the globe for its magnificent nature and excellent welfare system in the world. Finns live with a unique concept of “sisu” which means perseverance, strength, and determination, i.e., not giving up. Finland ranks 45th per its national gross domestic product (GDP) with a population of 5.5 million, whose literacy rate is 100 percent.
Finland has the highest ranking in high school competition rates. Japan has the 11th largest population, whose people live the longest in the world. Japan is the cleanest in the world, and the credit goes to their training for their kids during their early education at elementary schools. Forests cover 67 percent area in Japan. Singapore derives from Singa meaning lion, and Pura meaning city. Singapore is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime southeast Asia. Singapore is famous for being a global financial center and among the most densely populated places in the world. Singaporeans feel pride in going from a third-world (sleepy fishing village) to a first-world (well-developed country) in one generation. Despite their differences, all three countries are committed to providing high-quality education to their students and preparing them for future challenges.

Half a century ago, Finland was known to the world as one of the coldest and poorest countries in the world. Likewise, Japan was severely destroyed in the WW II and by earthquakes, storms, and tornados in the later course of time. Similarly, Singapore was a marshy area separated by Malaysia in 1965 to reduce its economic burdens. However, these countries discovered a shared key to progress: the evolution of a practicable education system that has put them on an exemplary way of prosperity and opulence. The performance of students of these countries has been magnificent in PISA (Programme for International Students Assessment). PISA is a worldwide study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in member and non-member nations intended to evaluate educational systems by measuring 15-year-old school pupils' scholastic performance in mathematics, science, and reading.
Finland has been on top among all participating countries from 2000 to 2012. It has remained among the top five positions till 2022—likewise, the performance of Japan and Singapore in the PISA program.
All the countries, especially the developed and the developing ones, are pursuing to know more about the salient of their education systems. In this regard, a gist of a few essential characteristic features has been chalked out that may be taken as guidelines for any country to meet the challenges of current times which include teacher training, equity in education, teaching methodology/strategy, STEM and STEAM education, holistic education and motivational factors, technological innovation and student-centered learning.
Pakistan has a blend of various education systems, but in the ongoing education system, students get admission to primary school, then attend middle school and then go to high school. Then, as per their interest, opt F. Sc, FA, or Diploma field. Then go to universities for higher education. The Pakistani education system has long struggled with several problems, including inadequate funding, outdated curriculum, poor infrastructure, insufficient teacher training, and political interference. These issues have significantly affected Pakistan's education quality, leading to a widespread lack of literacy and skills among its population. Pakistan needs to formulate an effective education policy to handle these problems. It requires the dire application of the above characteristic features to be implemented in the country's education system to bridge the gap as for as the following comparative statistical data is concerned:
The world is witnessing a massive outburst of knowledge with an enormous flux of information and data every day, transforming the world into digitalized and more intelligent world. All countries are well aware of the importance of paying their due attention to the better education of their youth, to equip them with better skills and knowledge, enabling them to face and respond to future challenges in a befitting mode. In the coming times, only those nations who will be the fittest will survive; this is only possible by gaining abreast and up-to-date knowledge and skills. Therefore, any nation must devote its resources dedicatedly and devotedly to educating its youth through modern means, skills, strategies, and devices to meet the demands of the present times. Likewise, Pakistan must be vigilant on current international developments and feel the pulse of the time. Pakistan has to overcome its challenges and work on strategies and policies to modernize its education system. The concerned authorities have to cap off the bars placed on the unexploited potential of Pakistani youth to let them shine on the international canvas with colors and glory.

The writer is serving at Military College Murree as an instructor.