Succumbing to pressure of its key coalition partner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Jamaat-e-Islami, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government has decided in principle to remove ‘objectionable material’ from the textbooks of local primary schools, local media reports said on Saturday.
A senior official of the KP Education Department said that JI leaders had voiced reservations about the printing of pictures of minor girls without dupattas, Christmas cake and a Cross emblem on an ambulance instead of Crescent, the mention of good morning instead of Assalamu Aliakum, and presence of some other ‘objectionable’ stuff in textbooks for primary schools.
“JI leaders have complained about minor things in textbooks, whose removal has been decided in principle,” the official said, requesting anonymity.
He said JI had demanded replacement of the expression ‘good morning’ with Assalamu Aliakum and the government was quick to accept it.
JI provincial spokesman Israrullah said his party had serious reservations about certain contents of textbooks but ‘objectionable’ stuff had been removed after Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Atif Khan met party leaders on Wednesday.
“Officials of the department concerned and textbook board have formally agreed to remove objectionable contents from textbooks and will induct material to be proposed by Jamaat,” he said.
The meeting held in Peshawar on Wednesday was attended by Education Minister Atif Khan, Additional Secretary Education Qaisar Alam, chairman of the textbook board Jamal Nasir and other senior officers.
Jamaat-e-Islami was represented by local government minister Inayatullah Khan, head of the JI education committee Mirajuddin and other members of the party.
“Jamaat is now satisfied with the government’s assurances and hopes minutes of the meeting with the minister will be implemented in letter and spirit,” Israrullah said, adding that the revised syllabus would conform to Islamic teachings and the ideology of Pakistan.
JI had recently protested the presence of objectionable material in textbooks and even threatened to quit the PTI-led government over it.
JI provincial chief Professor Mohammad Ibrahim had stated early this month that his party had not been taken into confidence before preparation of syllabus for primary schools.
He had complained that the provincial government has removed lessons on the life of Holy Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be upon Him), His wives and four caliphs of Muslims from textbooks and inducted contents about Ranjit Singh, Raja Dahir, and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan.
JI claimed that it had signed an agreement with its senior coalition partner in which it was decided that the controversial contents of textbooks by the previous government would be removed and that the new syllabus would be designed with the JI consultation.
The spokesman said the material related with teaching of Islam, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and important Muslim personalities, including Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinah, would again be included in textbooks.
He said the India-occupied Kashmir was not shown as part of Pakistan in the map printed in textbooks, while lessons about Quaid-e-Azam were also removed from textbooks designed for children.
He said induction of lesson about Khan Abdul Ghaffar was not a big issue.
The government official said the objection over Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan was turned down and JI leaders were convinced that like Abdul Ghaffar Khan, every politician was controversial.
He said the map incorporated in the Survey of Pakistan had been reproduced in the textbooks.
The credit must go JI first and then PTI for doing a noble job of including Islamic and National knowledge for primary school children.
Islamic Republic Of Pakistan's School Books logically and Must be Islam Friendly! Otherwise is not possible! all the good actions for our children's education must be supported of course respecting in Lettre Islam & Islamic Civilization Allah is the Greatest
Criminal ruling feudal English elites in Islamic Pakistan are on their Last moments of existence the powerful liberation movement is well ahead in few days maybe months there will be announced of another powerful Islamic Power has come in front of world eyes called Ir Pakistan, is totaly blackouted by world medias, Our Great leaders Allama Qadri & Imran Khan are totaly in the service of Peoples of Ir Pakistan, Harbinger of very good news for Ir Pakistan then world of Islam
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