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HomeOpinionWhat Imran Khan is doing to Pakistani school textbooks even Zia-ul-Haq didn’t

What Imran Khan is doing to Pakistani school textbooks even Zia-ul-Haq didn’t

The huge volume of religious material the proposed Single National Curriculum contains beats all previous version’s in Pakistan’s history.

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Be prepared, Pakistan! Imran Khan’s government is poised to inflict damage upon this country’s education system in a manner never seen before. Its so-called Single National Curriculum (SNC) hides systemic changes going far deeper than the ones conceived and executed by the extremist regime of Gen Zia-ul-Haq. Implementation is scheduled for 2021.

At first glance a uniform national curriculum is hugely attractive. Some see it striking a lethal blow at the abominable education apartheid that has wracked Pakistan from day one. By the year, a widening gap has separated beneficiaries of elite private education from those crippled by bad public schooling. So what could be better than the rich child and the poor child studying the same subjects from the same books and being judged by the same standards?

But this morally attractive idea has been hijacked, corrupted, mutilated and beaten out of shape by those near-sighted persons now holding Pakistan’s future in their hands, and who, like their boss, kowtow to the madressah establishment. Prime Minister Khan was widely criticised in 2016-17 for making huge grants to madressahs of the late Maulana Samiul Haq, self-professed father of the Taliban who was murdered by an associate in mysterious circumstances.


Also read: Imran Khan trolls ‘unfortunate’ India over Covid surge, but Pakistan conducts 21% fewer tests


As yet only SNC plans for Class I-V are public. But the huge volume of religious material they contain beats all curriculums in Pakistan’s history. A column-by-column comparison with two major madressah systems — Tanzeemul Madaris and Rabtaul Madaris — reveals a shocking fact. Ordinary schools will henceforth impose more rote learning than even these madressahs. Normal schoolteachers being under-equipped religiously, SNC calls for summoning an army of madressah-educated holy men — hafiz’s and qaris — as paid teachers inside schools. How this will affect the general ambiance and the safety of students is an open question.

The push for a uniform national curriculum idea derives from three flawed assumptions:

First: It is false that quality differences between Pakistan’s various education streams stem from pursuing different curricula. When teaching any secular subject such as geography, social studies or science, all streams have to cover the same topics. While details and emphases obviously differ, each must deal with exactly seven continents and water being H2O.

Instead, learning differentials arise because students experience very different teaching methods and are evaluated using entirely different criteria. So, for example, a local examination board will typically ask a mathematics student to name the inventor of logarithms whereas an ‘O’-level student must actually use logarithms to solve some problem. The modern world expects students to reason their way through a question, not parrot facts.


Also read: India makes fresh request for ‘unrestricted’ consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan


Second: It is false that a hefty dose of piety will somehow equalise students of Aitchison College and your run-of-the-mill neighbourhood school. The legendary Mahmood and Ayyaz prayed in the same suff (prayer line) and established a commonality without ending their master-slave relationship. Similarly, rich and poor schools will remain worlds apart unless equalised through school infrastructure, well-trained teachers, high quality textbooks and internet access. How the needed resources will be generated is anybody’s guess. Under the PTI, defence is the only sector seeing increases instead of cuts.

Third: It is false that school systems belonging to the modern world can be brought onto the same page as madressahs. Modern education rests squarely upon critical thinking, and success/failure is determined in relation to problem solving and worldly knowledge. Madressah education goals are important but different. They seek a more religiously observant student and a better life after death. Understandably, critical thinking is unwelcome.

While some madressahs now teach secular subjects like English, science and computers, this comes after much arm-twisting. Soon after 9/11, madressahs were spotlighted as terrorist breeding grounds. Musharraf’s government, beholden as it was to America, ordered them to teach secular subjects. Most rejected this outright but others were successfully pressurised. However, madressahs teach secular and religious subjects identically; reasoning is sparse and authoritarianism dominates.

While the new Class I-V SNC document also discusses secular subjects, much of this is pointless tinkering with the minutiae of teaching English, general knowledge, general science, mathematics and social studies. They are not accompanied by plausible plans for how the necessary intellectual or physical resources will be garnered and the plans implemented.

Still bigger changes are around the corner. The Punjab government has made teaching of the Holy Quran compulsory at the college and university level. Without passing the required examination no student will be able to get a BA, BSc, BE, ME, MA, MSc, MPhil, PhD or medical degree. Even the Zia regime did not have such blanket requirements. To get a university teaching job in the 1980s, you had to name all the wives of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and recite some difficult religious passages such as Dua-i-Qunoot. Still, students could get degrees without that. That option is now closed.

Starkly inferior to their counterparts in Iran, India and Bangladesh, Pakistani students perform poorly in all international science and mathematics competitions. Better achievers are invariably from the elite ‘O’-/‘A’-level stream. More worrying is that most students are unable to express themselves coherently and grammatically in any language, whether Urdu or English. They have stopped reading books.


Also read: Imran Khan govt bans PUBG citing ‘anti-Islam material’. His youth base won’t have any of it


Significantly, as yet the PTI’s new education regime is mum on how it will advance its goal of closing a huge skill deficit. So poor is the present quality of technical and vocational institutes that private employers must totally retrain the graduates. That’s why private-sector industrial growth is small and entire state enterprises, such as PIA and Pakistan Steel Mills, have collapsed. Pakistan’s space programme flopped but Iran has just put a military satellite into orbit and India is well on the way to Mars.

Empowered by the 18th Amendment, Pakistan’s provinces should vigorously resist the regressive plan being thrust upon the nation by ideologues that have usurped power in Islamabad. Else Pakistan will end up as the laughing stock of South Asia, left behind even by Arab countries. Pakistan’s greatest need — and its single greatest failure — is its tragic failure to impart essential life skills to its citizens. To move ahead, the priority should be to educate rather than score political points.

Pervez Hoodbhoy teaches physics in Lahore and Islamabad. Views are personal.

The article was first published in Dawn.

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396 COMMENTS

    • Pervez Hoodbhoy is AghaKhani..They PRAY, in front of Prince Karim Agha Khan’s Picture. Their HAJ is, Whenever THEY can Physically TOUCH FEET of Prince. THEY Believe, that Prince is Walking-Talking Holy QURAN. Ofcourse, AghaKhanis Non-Muslims. Rgrds, UMMAA Broadcasting, Missouri LLC, USA

  1. What a pathetic and narrow view. Having a qari in school can be threat or a misfit, sir you need to straight out your mind set. And if you think religion has no space for critical thinking you need to widen your knowledge about the phelosophy of our religion. I just lost my interest in first quarter of your article. A very close minded and biased and totally giving wrong perception of religion and education given by you.

    • Me too. Going through the initial areticle just suggests that the writer is very much biased. Madrassas are better than most of the schools in world but are a threat to private education systems whose only job is to extract as much money from the parents ad possible alongwith providing the worse kind of education. The print should avioid po sting such opinions Also, the so called madrassas are responsible or the freedom of India and Pakistan.

      • What nonsense of the biggest kind are you stating by saying your stupid islamofascism,bigotry,hatred spreading madrssas are responsible for independence movement??Ever heard of any Nobel laureate,high quality scientist/engineers coming out of the hell hole you called madrssa,NO. But lot of Islamofascit jihadist UN/World recognized terrorist do have come out of it to spread terrorism, bigotry,hatred.

    • Its funny how the article has changed from when it was first published in the Pakistani Dawn newspaper. Then on top of that this website is based in India and rather than taking an article that had some sort of positivity to it, they are making out that Pakistan is going to turn into a militant state. Let’s see an article about the RSS do the same. I cannot understand why India and Indian media are so intent on covering as many stories about Pakistan as possible. If it were to provide a fair sample of what Pakistani life is like that would be different, but alas its all doom and gloom about Pakistan. Try something different for a change and look at the bright side of life and the benefits that the two countries could achieve by coming together.

  2. پرویز ہودبھائے پرلے درجے کا جاہل انسان ہے۔ اسے ہر چیز سے الرجی ہے جس کا تعلق مزہب سے ہے۔۔۔۔

  3. I am happy to hear you. This article shows only the western thought which are now part of soul of most of the elite class. I appreciate the efforts of IK government for one single curriculum but on the other side it is much demanded that curriculum should meet the international standards to compete in the world

  4. western democracy believes in “majority’s authority ”
    …..and i m really glad that majority is considering ur article a rubbish biased baseless and factless writing.
    poor played enemy very poor

    • Western democracies are republics first, not majority’s authority.
      First they value enlightenment values and then they vote.
      What Imran Khan or Modi are, are demagogues. That is what Western democracies normally try to avoid (obviously failed with Trump).

  5. I for one can vouch for the fact that proper religious curriculum – the one taught to those who aim at becoming scholars through standard boards – is not rote learning. Not in the least. If one even studies the science of hadith/narrations, one will be baffled at the extent to which a scholar goes in determining the authenticity; analyzing various chains etc.

    • Mr Saad Ashraf: Nonsense !

      I live in europe and have seen the damage that Muslim religious education does to Pakistani children growing up in secular European countries. The bulk of the education imparted to children consisted of memorising the Qur’an, a religious book written in classical Arabic. The education is done after regular school hours when the child is usually already tired or has to skip other fun activities like sports. The tutors are usually Punjabi speaking, barely literate village bumpkins who have used their connections to get a plum assignment in a Western European country.

      Problems that educational authorities observed with this religious education:
      – The children are made to memorise a text in classical Arabic that they did not understand
      – The tutor himself does not understand classical Arabic although he would be able to recite it. Indeed, several tutors spoke only Punjabi and almost all spoke very little Urdu
      – The children usually were spanked by the tutors for transgressions, violating local laws that prohibit corporal punishment.
      – The opportunities for Pakistani children to play, interact and integrate with their local peers were vastly diminished

      Yes, my analysis stems from religious educatoin for minority Muslim children from Pakistan in Northern European countries and I do not wish to generalise it. But in the European context, this pointles exercise does not bode well for their futures.

  6. We need to recognize the black sheeps in our home land. This guy is making his Indian and other masters happy, and making his creator ver unhappy. Speaking of Quran, Mr. Writer read “Surah e Tuaba”, and “Surah e Ahzaab” , with translation and understanding. Those warnings and sentences from Allah SWT are for you and people like
    you. Tik Tok, Tick Tok ….. time is running out for repentence and Tauba. You Islam hatters have no perception what you people are getting into, and whom you are messing with (An ultimate power),. Donot hate and condemn muslims, since we are just doing our job. When you will see the truth with your own eyes at your natural death time , only one thing will be your friend, and that is an utter disappoitment, and not only just a punishment from Allah but, it will be a torment. So get your stupid head straight, anf fear Allah SWT. It is a Brotherly advise to you, Mr. Hood bhoy. So that may and people like you may save yourself from a painful torment, coming fast towards the humanity (who are disbeliever). Remember this!

    • Mr Syed Shah: While you are fully entitled to believe in “An ultimate power”, please allow the rest of us to believe in other things. And allow us disbelievers and kafirs to have the same scorn for your “An ultimate power” as you have for our stone idols.

      Muslims like you increase Islamophobia everywhere in the world.

  7. Hi guys and ladies. The history of this So called writer or whatever he is just a Pakistani just for a mistake as he has always stood against everything done in Pakistan specially Imran khan as he is an honest man and peaceful as nobody else .
    The change is needed as we have to become a nation and stronger then before just for our own future without causing any changes to others , so I don’t understand the worry of all the persons thinking that Islam is an extream religion while we see a lot of controversy in India . So called secular country but without freedom . The true story is that Pakistan needs a change and still there are people and outsiders , Interested in Pakistan where the past political elite was in their hands… Is now everyone is feeling insecure without any reason . If someone is worried , it’s just a fear that is called the guilty heart… Bless you all…

    • Pervez Hoodbhoy is the most educated Pakistani who writes in Press.
      He has always been right at everything and he points to the real situation and explains what will happen if a policy is continued.
      Fundamentalists hate him.

      The same lessons also apply to India. Whether you force Quran or Vedas on students, it will ruin the country’s competitiveness.
      Religion should be a choice, not a mandate.

  8. Well a writer seems to be a psycho patient or he just lost the sight of islam if or she is supposed to be a muslim. Islam is the religion which shows light upon every aspect and its good and bad side, islam shows the science to the modern world scientist which keep on learning through Quran, how stupid is this that a critical thinking cannot be done through researching islam are you mad ?? Does doremon teaching good science to your children ?? Can’t you afford that the time your children serve on doremon will better serve on learning islam. Please be positive and broad your mind i am not an scholar but i know the once who follow Allah S.W.T will never break into apart. Jazak Allah.

    • It is you who is the psycho, not him.
      Dr. Hoodbhoy is among the smartest that Pakistan produced, while you are a religious bigot.
      And you know what? Watching Doreimon is much better than reading Quran. Its morals are better. It is not from the dark ages. Ask a kid how he want to spend his time. You will get your vote.

      Leave religion for adults. Don’t shove it down the throats of kids.

  9. Thirdly, who said you cannot bring modern schools and madressahs on the same page? Islam is a religion for all the people to come till the day of judgement. If what you’re saying was true we wouldnt be talking about people like Ibn Sina, Jabir Bin Hayaan, Ibn Al Haytham and the list goes on. Allah says in Quran: “Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.” So stop being an extremist and try to impose your own extremist view on people. You honestly have no idea what you are talking about and how wrong you are about it.

  10. Firstly the writer should go and ask students from Pakistan about the quality of education they recieve while they are studying in government and private schools. You’ll realize that its true there is huge gap between the quality of education delivered in private schools compared to government schools. Its a known fact known to every common citizen of Pakistan.
    Secondly its not just about a hefty dose of piety. Its our religion, our history, norms and ideals we are talking about here. Trying to bring the younger generation closer towards Islam will make the secular minded people angry and try to create new problems. Its a positive and great step by Imran Khan. You cannot stop what he’s trying to change with an extremist mindset without the real facts and figures.

  11. Whatever pathethic mindset made the writer this whole article is just simply out of my mind. Being an extremist and calling others extremists and realizing it is common. The is one of the best decision PTI’s government has taken by making the syllabus same for every student along with additional Islamic topics related to the life of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H), the companions of the prophet and other great leaders and warriors of Islam. Its not what we want but truly what we need.

  12. Not surprised by the bleating of Credulous naive sheep’s who follow a equally delusional brainless ewes. What is alarming is that this kind of stupid unquestioned loyalty is coming from so-called educated lot.
    This article is unique in its writing. Author has touched upon a nerve which should have jolted a reaction from extremists; but out of blind obedience for the ewes the sheep started bleating against a sane voice.

  13. I have listen the writer in a conference speaking over the topic “creation of the universe” in a public sector university. All the logics presented were only accepted by the Pervez Hoodbhoy himself. In recent days Pervez Hoodbhoy’s services has been terminated from FC university and the reasons were its confusing and disputed personality.
    He is quite worthless personality due to its anti Islamic mindset.

  14. Word fascism is used by many people in the context of Nazis but in present circumstances, this word is more related to any extremist ideology supporting intolerance i.e. religious fundamentalist, caste discrimination, supporters of apartheid, social discrimination against the weaker section of society, communism etc.

  15. Wow this Article is totally not a Sore loser Reply to the Extremist propaganda of so called secular government.No!🤣🤣🤣

  16. What do you expect from a country in which the worshipping of a 7th century pedophile is mandatory. Beside Islamic terrorists and opium what else does Pakistan export?
    The greatest strength of Islam is ignorance and has always been ignorance.
    Ignorance of the life of their so called prophet
    Ignorance of the Quran
    Ignorance of the Hadiths.
    No sane Muslim can read the Quran and the Hadiths and remain a Muslim.
    That is why the government and the imams must keep their oblivious population ignorant.

    • Its anti-islamist, not anti-islam.
      Isn’t the point of your religion to have a choice?
      How is making things compulsory for kids giving them a choice?
      Don’t brainwash them as kids. Let them grow up as adults, get educated. If they want to believe upon becoming adults, they should make that choice.

  17. That’s Islam which always pinches you. We are she will study whatever is required as per Quran and Hadeeth of Last Prophet SAW. You are short tempered people who can’t face reality and always afraid of Islam while Islam is most peaceful religion and a complete code of conduct for successful life in this world and the world after this.
    Why would anyone date to keep us of what’s related to us being our basic right.

  18. I fully support imran khan for this radical step. We r an islamic state and we need to educate well our children and Quran knowledge shud b compulsory for all the graduates . IA it will happen.

  19. I think the writer either is biased or completely ignorant. Look like no research done. These kind of writers misleading trust between nations. These kinda authors are responsible of our hated world. We all should discourge these kind of authors, those writing without real facts and always show negativety.

    • Why we should discourage an author/writer or any other person for the record who doesnt agree with your religon/culture) philosophy in first place??There is something called freedom of speech,& you cant force down what is wrong/correct morality on someone else,its you who are spreading hatred/Intolerance by shoving down your religon/culture on those who dont want to be any part of it. No one can tolerate islamofascism.

  20. What’s wrong in imparting religious knowledge in addition to other subjects and who says that only traditional mullah is the best choice. There can be Muslim scholars well versed in their subject. As far as modern subjects are concerned they can contribute in growing externally, where as Quran and sunnah knowledge can work internally and can help in soul transformation thus resulting in producing better human beings. The modern verdicts and theories remain in transformational state and keep on changing with time, where as divine knowledge is final and absolute. In historical tradition worldly and religious knowledge went side by side. I don’t understand why people have repulsive attitude when it comes to religion, probably because it is liable for major transformation in society. The change is unacceptable because it can intrude in the comfort zone of many.

  21. The Dawn newspaper should stick to just reporting news and imparting it’s biased nonsense as mainstream. It’s utterly biased and probably on the payroll of Nawaz Sharif’s family. Ceril Almeida was in the PMLNs inner circle and was fed a lot nonsense from inner sanctum of a political party that was pandering to Modi.

    Hoodbhoy is detached from the real world. An elitist who is anti Islam and his BS doesn’t resonate with the masses who need real change.

  22. As a well wisher of Pakistan from the time
    of creation , and and an admirer of Imran
    Khan I wish him well with his new plan
    for change in education system. May Allah
    reward him and also make his scheme a
    success. Insha Allah khair !!!

  23. The writer of the column is a jerk, whose voice is not even heard by his family. Keep away from Pakistan. And yes, you guys will burn in your own fire and will fall in the ditch that you dig for us.

  24. Came to leave a comment, but bhai iski to pehley hee sab ney bohut kr d….. hun aram ey??? 🔥🔥🔥🤣🤣🤣

  25. The writer is truly biased n have anti islamic agenda as jews wants.. that by religion people should have islam but not practicing.. if educated system has more islamic content then whats wrong in it?.. atleast our generation should know truly about what is religion n what is deen.. difference between two.. niether our children know their histories… niether properly Namaz, namazr janaza, wuzu n jumma ..

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