Government surrenders meekly to curriculum controversy

THE government appears to have completely failed to tackle the curriculum revision controversy and the propaganda surrounding it. The federal government has tried to avoid it rather than address it, fuelling unnecessary unrest amongst religious and academic quarters.

Even at a recent meeting headed by President General Pervez Musharraf, responsibility for the changes were not fixed and nor was the problem properly evaluated. At the meeting, held at Governor’s House in Lahore, the president agreed to continue with two committees, one at provincial level and the other at federal level. The meeting also decided to review the syllabus regularly and transparently so the issue could not be politicised in future.

Academicians are worried that the revision of the curriculum, which took two years, is going to be reversed. They are concerned that unless the controversy around the changes is not tackled head on, the vision of a syllabus with an enlightened Islam would not come true.

However, the concerned quarters are still trying to shift responsibility for the issue. With no one willing to stand up for the changes, voices of discontent calling for sackings are intensifying.

The majority of Pakistanis are Muslim, though from various sects. To include or exclude some Quranic verses from textbooks, with the consensus of all segments of society and after due process, should not be taken as a victory or defeat for Islam. Educationists say all the changes made in the textbooks were approved by the interim federal government, but the new government has failed to face the attacks on the changes so it doesn’t annoy its ‘friendly opposition’, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA).

The “objectionable material” in the curriculum was approved by the Education Ministry’s Curriculum Wing in various textbooks of the Sindh and Punjab boards, from class I to XII, in Islamabad in 2000-01 when Zubaida Jalal was education minister during President Musharraf’s interim government. The curriculum for science subjects was revised in 2000 and the curriculum for arts subject in 2002. This was the first revision since 1986.

There were some illustrative and typographical mistakes, but that was not a surprise. No formal training is imparted to the authors or the revision committee members. The exclusion of Quranic verses from the first chapter of Biology for class XI by the Sindh Textbook Board was approved by the Education Ministry under a notification dated June 24,2003. The publication approval was given by the National Review Committee, which also gave a no objection certificate (NOC) to the syllabi for various grade books of the Punjab Textbook Board.

The federal government approved the inclusion of the chapter ‘Model millionaire’ and ‘How to live on less income’. The controversial story in the Class X (Bahare Urdu) book, relating to Hazrat Umar’s listening to music and poetry, was not objected to at that time. The chapter was derived from a book by renowned historian and scholar Shibli Nomani.

Nobody pointed out that the included part of that book was controversial, so it was approved with consensus. The replacement of Surah Tobah with three short Surahs of the Holy Quran was also recommended with consensus.

The then committee members of the subject included Mualana Ataur Rehamn, now with the MMA, Wafaqul Madaris representatives and a member from the Islamic International University, Islamabad.

In Punjab, the number of Quranic verses in class IX and X Biology was decreased from around 10 to four.

The majority of Muslims consider Shibli Nomani an authority on Islamic history. That Hazrat Umar liked music and poetry came from him. Nobody has objected to the author, but many are angry with the government.

The time has come to make the curriculum review process more transparent and fair to ensure a balanced syllabus that portrays an enlightened Islam.

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A 26-member Indian delegation headed by Dr Haresh Suksena, last week visited Lahore Government College University (GCU), the oldest institution in South Asia. GCU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Aftab and others received the delegation at a reception in the Old Hall. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Aftab said the exchange of such delegations would harmonise relations between the two countries and help people understand each other.

The delegation has arrived under a youth exchange programme organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and International Youth Foundation. The delegation members were drawn from each Indian state and it was their first visit under the programme. The delegation will also visit the National College of Arts, the Lahore College for Women University and Lahore’s historical sites.

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The GCU vice chancellor last week opened the Centre of Plant Products Research at the chemistry department. Speaking at the occasion, Dr Aftab urged the researchers to commercialise herbal medicines. He also unveiled a portrait of distinguished old Ravian and Nobel laureate Dr Har Gobind Khorana.

Faculty of Science Dean Dr Muhammad Akram Kashmiri said people around the globe were cutting down on the use of antibiotics and other medicines and focusing on herbal medicines. “The diversity of plants available in the subcontinent will give a boost to the indigenous products which can make us some foreign exchange,” he added.

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KINNARID College (KC) last week held its 70th convocation. At the occasion, graduate and post-graduate students read special messages. Fakhra Shahid, representing the postgraduates of 2003, said they had a very supportive network at KC, which would enable them to adjust to new surroundings. She said the KC facilitated their academic growth and allowed them to gain invaluable research skills.

“Our intellectual curiosity was nourished by a faculty that is dynamic, diverse and innovatively led by Dr Mira Phailbus, the KC principal,” she said.

Kinnaird also awarded special prizes to Pakistani professionals. The awards were conferred upon Muneeza Hashmi, Nasim Zehra, Kamila Hayat, Ayesha Haroon, Mrs Dr Akhtar Riazuddin, Neelam Hussain and others.

Most importantly, Dr Phailbus called it a day at the KC after 32 years as principal. Ira Hassan is to replace Dr Phailbus in June.

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PUNJAB University’s Child Welfare Centre (CWC) arranged a two-day children’s welfare fair at the university guesthouse last week. Entry was restricted to families only. Various handicrafts, embroidered clothes and food stalls were set up to raise funds for special children of the CWC.

The Human Resources Development Centre (HRDC) of the university also arranged a Graduate Record Exam preparatory course for faculty members who intend to go abroad for higher studies.

The Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics of the university and the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council will organise a workshop on ‘Honey and Honeybee Queen Production’ from April 27 to 30. The participants will be given technical knowledge on honey and honeybee queen production and beekeeping management. Matriculates can attend the conference.

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THE National University of Sciences and Technology’s Dr Ashraf Masood and Dr Mohammad Hassan Zaidi were conferred awards in the field of ‘IT Research and Development’ and ‘IT Educationalist’ at a prestigious ceremony held by NCR Corporation at Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad. Dr Aamir Mateen, managing director of the Pakistan Software Export Board, distributed the awards. Dr Ashraf was given the 5th NCR National IT Excellence award in the category of IT Research and Development.

Dr Zaidi also won the 2001 NCR excellence award in the category of IT Research and Development.

The university has signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to explore the possibility of carrying out EPRI funded research projects.

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APTECH Computer Centre Defence branch last week arranged an information technology seminar at its campus on IT, its need and scope. APTECH Executive Director Shahid Nabi Malik and others addressed the seminar. Waqar Gillani


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