Unless curricula are framed in according with local environment, needs, over and above political ideologies, religious faiths and beliefs, no one can ensure achieving the goals of progress and prosperity, educationists and representatives from civil society organisations said in a dialogue arranged by Peace Education and Development (PEAD) Foundation in Peshawar on Tuesday.
Debate over curricula reform: The dialogue was meant to discuss the anomalies in the curricula, pointed out by PEAD through a survey and to build up consensus on positive proposals for reforming or framing the curricula on realistic grounds. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Minister Sardar Hussain Babak was the guest speaker, while educationists like Prof Dr Qibla Ayaz of Peshawar University, Dr Fazal Rahim Marwat, chairman Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Text Book Board, Haroon of Religious Council, Dr Jehanzib Khan and Dr Hamid Ullah Khan of Text Book Board, Mohammad Zubair and Zarmina Rafique expressed their views and took stock of proposals.
Imtiaz Gul of PEAD Foundation highlighted the purposes, which was to drive attention of the educationists, authorities and other stakeholders towards anomalies in the curricula. He said after the passage of 18th Amendment, the provinces would go for adopting or framing curricula of their choice. On such grounds, he said, it was the right time to make provincial authorities realize their responsibilities.
Bring in the mother language: Speaking on the occasion, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Minister Sardar Hussain Babak said, “The provincial government is aware of its responsibilities and working on curricula, which is according to the interests of the province and its people.” He pointed out that “our government is giving maximum importance and priority to mother languages in the new education curricula”, making it clear that along with Pashto, the government has directed for teaching in other languages like Hindko, Seraiki, Khawar and Gojri in areas dominated by such communities. Commenting on the passage of Mother Languages Bill by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Babak said the bill “reflected wishes, expectations and needs of the people from all over the province without any discrimination”. According to a survey by PEAD Foundation, the existing curricula is based on glorification of war, twisting of religious-cultural norms, discrimination of women and minorities and portraying Muslims as superior.
