A nation’s future hangs in the balance when it cannot educate its youth. Using a journalistic approach, this film explores the country’s appalling public education system. Schools with no teachers, schools overflowing with garbage, schools under the open sky, without drinking water or electricity; this is what most students of public schools in Pakistan can look forward to. Little wonder that a vast majority of primary school graduates can’t even be considered literate by international standards. All the while, a corrupt hierarchy of officials and school staff line their pockets with funds meant for educating the nation’s children and powerful feudals deny the children of their peasants the right to even a basic education, while sending their own offspring to the best schools in the country and abroad. And no one is held accountable. Using in-depth interviews and shocking footage, the filmmakers reveal a country where quality education is reserved only for a chosen few, while millions of children are denied the chance of a future.

More information available at www.choicesvideo.net

Syed Ali Nasir grew up in Karachi and spent his college years in Boston before heading back to Pakistan to take up his true passion: filmmaking. In the four years since, he has travelled all over the region, directing documentaries and news reports for a diverse group of clients, including Channel 4 and Mercy Corps. His short film "Lust" won him the Best Emerging National Talent award at the 4th KaraFilm Festival in Karachi. After working with Newsline Films, he now directs documentaries under the banner of Periscope.