 Dear students, in this module, we are going to discuss the process of screening and allocation from conflict perspective. Screening and allocation refers to the process by which individuals are sorted and allocated into different positions and roles in society, often based on their qualifications and credentials. In conflict perspective, screening and allocation is seen as a means of reproducing and reinforcing existing social inequalities as those with greater access to resources and opportunities are more likely to succeed in the screening process. Screening and allocation, especially in modern societies, is a process in which we are prepared in the education system so that we can take more grades or more numbers and later on, our abilities and capabilities are judged on the basis of them. So, in terms of conflict perspective, there is a critical point of view and in their view, this process itself is based on inequality. The main reason for this is that all children are assumed in the education system that they have equal opportunities for competition. However, this does not happen in reality. All children do not come from the same cultural background, do not come from the same socialization process and do not have the same mental and physical capabilities. So, all these differences, because the education system is generally ignored, all of them go through the same competitive environment. And at the end, it is expected that all these screening processes go through and reach a specific position while competing. In Pakistan, we can take this example in such a way that such children who have a facility available for coaching academies have more possibilities, more numbers to achieve and more grades, higher grades to achieve. As compared to those children who do not afford a coaching center because of lack of money or poverty. Similarly, when we talk about the language barrier, unfortunately, in Pakistan, the medium of communication in academic institutions, the medium of instruction, because it is English, the focus on the English language is on the modern elite class or elite school system. That is why these children have more possibilities for them to better compete in such a system, achieve better grades or points as compared to those children who have come from a public education system. So, from this conflict point of view, this process of screening and allocation is very vehemently opposed, because the inequalities in it ultimately lead to injustice in the society. So, in Pakistan, if we see that the education system plays a significant role in screening and allocation of individuals into different positions and roles in the society. Conflict perspective suggests that education system in Pakistan is biased towards those with greater resources and opportunities and it also reinforces the existing social inequalities. So, at the same time, understanding the role of screening and allocation is essential for analyzing the ways in which social inequality is reproduced and reinforced in the contemporary society. Because it is important to understand this, because our major focus as a social scientist is to see how the existing infrastructure in the society is creating opportunities for individuals. So, these possibilities of opportunities are potentially inherently unequal. That is, before the competition begins, some people are at the advantageous position and others are at the potentially disadvantageous position. So, when these people go to the job market together and try to compete there, then obviously, the margin will be given to those who have better resources and have better opportunities in life. So, food for thought for you, that you see how the screening and allocation system in Pakistan is working, what are its potential advantages and disadvantages.