ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD

(Secondary Teacher Education Department)

WARNING
1. PLAGIARISM OR HIRING OF GHOST WRITER(S) FOR SOLVING
THE ASSIGNMENT(S) WILL DEBAR THE STUDENT FROM AWARD
OF DEGREE/CERTIFICATE, IF FOUND AT ANY STAGE.
2. SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS BORROWED OR STOLEN FROM
OTHER(S) AS ONE’S OWN WILL BE PENALIZED AS DEFINED IN
“AIOU PLAGIARISM POLICY”.

ASSIGNMENT No. 1
(Units 1–4)

Course: Trends and Issues in Education (3701) Semester: Spring, 2010

Level: M.Phil Total Marks: 100
Pass Marks: 50
Note: All questions carry equal marks.

Q.1 Discuss the major trends of modern life and relate them to future possibilities in
various field of human activities.

Q.2 Analyse the equality versus meritocracy dilemma of our times presented by Torrten
Husen. Discuss the pros and cones of both the approaches and propose a balanced
approach for development of education in Pakistan.

Q.3 Hayes finds that some of the perennial issues which confront education in Pakistan are:
i) Political instability ii) Lack of continuity of constitutions
iii) Poverty; Rigid Classification of economic groups
iv) Illiteracy v) Population pressure and
vi) Unemployment

Q.4 Are the “Future Shocks” given by Alivin Toffler visionary, or realistic.
Substantiate your view-point with sound reasoning based on present trends and
developments.

Q.5 Critically study the section on conditions and learning needs in rural areas by
Coombs. Using the data from Pakistan situations, analyse the implications of the
following factors for expansion of education in rural areas.
(a) Increasing poverty
(b) Economic changes and
(c) Social Changes
 ASSIGNMENT No. 2
(Units 5–9)

Q.1 According to Haveman and Wolfe, The higher Education plays a limited role in
collective provision of “goods” relative to elementary or secondary education.
Discuss this observations and offer your suggestions to maximize benefits of higher
education in national development.

Q.2 Identify emerging socio-political trends in the world which are likely to affect
educational systems around the turn of the century.

Q.3 Being a senior educator, you must have been involved in the curriculum planning process in
Pakistan. What are the major problems and issues which are confronted by a curriculum
planner in Pakistan? What are the possible ways to overcome these problems.

Q.4 Keeping the existing trends in view, analyse the use of the following educational
technologies for improvement of learning at higher education level:-
(i) Television
(ii) Computer and
(iii) Video-cassettes

Q.5 Analyse the advantages and disadvantages of the essay and objective types tests
and suggest a workable model which combines the strengths of both these types for
adoption in Pakistan.