How Bias in Text books fuels division in Pakistani society

[dray]

fool like you

Sorry kid

I will ignore the abuses and personal attacks. I hope you know the rules here.

As for the last bit no bias exists now- show me where I said that? I said they have revised it.....did I say they made it perfect? Nope coz only a fool like you would like to think something can be perfect

Check your comment below.

So changes have already been made so why is your stomach hurting?:

It implies that after the changes there is nothing left to discuss. And no, my stomach is not hurting, but thanks for your concern anyway.

I have answered with regards to this article :


But I guess you didnt read my reply as you were so bent in to troll


Zia is the escape goat for failed institutions ...This is a big issue if you would like to know more have a look at what was ALREADY established during Zia's time and how he just followed within the established boundaries: Why blame Zia for every ill in Pakistan?



I already talked about this guy ......Though I hate the guy as per what he writes about but I agree to a certain degree with him when he (in the very article you chose) says:


He is a prof so dont listen to me but at least listen to him!

I also agree with this

Key point is that its not in our nature/ culture/ tradition not even in our CONSTITUTION to preach hate!!


Politicizing and bigotry 2 evil mixed together can be toxic to any society!


AND this was furthered:


Now that is not part of the curriculum so you cant really directly blame the system if it is taught but not found in the curriculum!


That is his opinion he is free to offer and say what he wills!


Why didnt you highlight this? Is SC decision not serious?

Selective highlighting?


1) Who is he?
2) What excerpts? Which textbooks? each province has their own system ....so one needs to be more specific!


The problem with not providing the source is he could be making a mountain of an ant hill!

Each country has their own standards of tolerance and intolerance...Like in France it is not tolerant of something as innocent as a headscarf or a long skirt but will cry rivers for cartoons offending another religion calling it tolerance for freedom of expression!

So what is the deciding factor for what Peter here is using as a measuring stick? Words such as preached open hatred: how is it not open hatred when you allow bashing of another religion through freedom of expression even after knowing what the outcome would be? - THESE are just examples of hypocrisy and also to question what is tolerant and not and who is to decide?

As for this superior BS....I am under the opinion these were the first that got taken out or at least should be!


Well, until and unless these people are further educated - I have few threads on education and how ignorance shouldnt be tolerated...


Why didnt you highlight this? THIS is an issue!


This falls under the previously discussed portion of the article:




THIS I seriously didnt understand what she meant to highlight!


I have mentioned this in too many threads.....

Its possibly the root cause of the whole population not even thinking when voting!


This is a problem why didnt you highlight it? I thought this was a discussion!



Highlighting this as though it is important!
They agreed but it is not mentioned in the article what those points are...Highlighting it was to......fill in the blanks! So it shows religious discrimination is violation of the constitution! That is good they agreed!


THIS was a proposed solution and in effect but not deserving a highlighting I see

How are you supposed to discuss when you are selectively reading and highlighting throwing out the points raised, the issues taken into account and the changes proposed?


So its an old thing! Would mean also exists in india! Less to do with the "system" and more to do with.......................answered here:


Correctly said, now the question comes how to end it in society? What steps to take and then what are the ways to throw it out of the textbooks...1 way is to have a single publisher but that would also mean state will monitor/ limit education! Well in 1 way it is cool! But in the other it may lead to bigots getting position and doing BS!

I think it is safe to assume from your reply that the first article has failed the test of being authentic or substantive to prove that Pakistani text books teach religious bigotry and hatred against minority communities and falsify history (do point out if you disagree). Let's move on to another article, this time a bit different source, and it is dated October 23, 2012. This time I am not highlighting anything, see, I have learned from my mistake. Do let me know if we should count this as proof.

Roundtable: Reforming the Curricula: Hate Content in Pakistani Textbooks

October 23, 2012 ISLAMABAD: The textbooks used in Pakistan’s schools today are rife with factual errors, bias and hate towards a number of religious groups and nations. This is helping fuel the increasing levels of intolerance and extremism being witnessed by Pakistani society today. Given that increasing extremism poses an existential threat to Pakistan; the government, civil society, education experts and citizens all need to contribute to a serious process of curriculum and textbook reform to help combat the growing levels of intolerance and violence towards minority groups in society. This was the view of participants at a roundtable discussion on curriculum development and textbook reform in Pakistan, organised by the Jinnah Institute in collaboration with the National Commission for Justice and Peace in Islamabad.

Raza Rumi, Director of Policy and Programmes at the Jinnah Institute, opened the discussion by highlighting the urgent need for curriculum and textbook reform to achieve a more tolerant and peaceful Pakistan. Mr. Rumi also pointed out that cooperation between all stakeholders in the education sector is required to achieve better policy outcomes, and the Jinnah Institute roundtable is an effort towards that. “We need to find a balance between civil society and government initiatives so that important and innovative solutions to curriculum-related issues can be implemented,” Mr. Rumi said.

Mr. Peter Jacob, Executive Director of the National Commission for Justice and Peace shared NCJP’s report on biases in our textbooks and highlighted examples of hate material in Pakistani textbooks, and how such material not only impacts negatively the minds of the majority Muslim students, but also harms the education and growth of non-Muslim students. Participants also highlighted how the religion of many non-Muslim students – Christians, Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims from the non-majority sects – is ignored while highlighting the majority faith.

Mirza Ashraf, a senior official of the Punjab provincial government’s textbook board, outlined the process of commissioning, writing and approving textbooks. Participants felt the need for devising policy and advocacy interventions for correcting hate material and stressed that a concerted effort needs to be made to review the subtle messages in educational materials with respect to minorities’ and women’s rights, and the freedom of religion and speech.

Haider Abbas Rizvi, deputy parliamentary leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Pakistan’s National Assembly, spoke about the damage caused to Pakistani minds by an education system that teaches them a falsified version of history. “When students come out of this system and independently look at the world, their minds are struck by the contradictions. Many reject both, then, and become part of a confused generation,” Mr. Rizvi said, adding that he will pursue the matter with the education minister in the Sindh province, where his party is a member of the coalition government.

Samson Sharaf of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) detailed the persecution of non-Muslim Pakistanis over two decades, and how Christians and Hindus, the largest non-Muslim communities in the country, have been discriminated against and deprived of the opportunity to live as full citizens of Pakistan through a flawed and biased education system.

Through a consultative process and by engaging a variety of stakeholders, the Jinnah Institute hopes to develop dialogue and momentum for a comprehensive review of Pakistani curricula and textbooks that will help create a more tolerant and peaceful Pakistan.

Other participants included Zafarullah Khan, Centre for Civic Education, Marvi Sirmed, Human Rights Activist, Fauzia Minallah, Rights Activist, Malika Raza, PTI Policy Group, Patras Bhatti, St. Marys Academy, Tariq Aqeel, Head Start School, Nadine Murtaza, Head Start School, among others.

JI | Roundtable: Reforming the Curricula: Hate Content in Pakistani Textbooks

 

[Dubious]

It implies that after the changes there is nothing left to discuss

No but you are crying about things where changes have already been applied or atleast an attempt to rectify is going on! So why not highlight that?

I think it is safe to assume from your reply that the first article has failed the test of being authentic or substantive to prove that Pakistani text books teach religious bigotry and hatred against minority communities and falsify history (do point out if you disagree).

As I said if the world around us is not black or white why simplify a complex concept? Nothing is perfect....laws are meant to be flexible to accommodate future changes as things change, thinking changes! Sure basic rules shouldnt change (say to kill, rape and so on should be punished ALWAYS)

I will read the 2nd one then I have other things to concentrate on....give me the next 3 tomorrow or day after...

This was the view of participants at a roundtable discussion on curriculum development and textbook reform in Pakistan, organised by the Jinnah Institute in collaboration with the National Commission for Justice and Peace in Islamabad.

Good to know they had a roundtable ....Now questions should be asked :
1) who was present
2) how much they knew about topic at hand? - as we can see many arent even aware that there was an SC judgement to change in 2011
3)

Jinnah Institute in collaboration with the National Commission for Justice and Peace in Islamabad.

I think this is related to the 1st article which also dealt with NCJP ...Maybe not this is in 2012 and the previous was in 2015...but at least we know the same commission is continuing its activity and isnt dead!

BTW, BEFORE I PROCEED...how is it a discussion when I am the only one typing while you arent contributing?

Isnt this another name for just throwing articles - the same as 1 liners?

 

[dray]

As I said if the world around us is not black or white why simplify a complex concept? Nothing is perfect....laws are meant to be flexible to accommodate future changes as things change, thinking changes! Sure basic rules shouldnt change (say to kill, rape and so on should be punished ALWAYS)

I will read the 2nd one then I have other things to concentrate on....give me the next 3 tomorrow or day after...

You can always answer the question in simple words, do Pakistani text books have religious bigotry and hate content at present?

Good to know they had a roundtable ....Now questions should be asked :
1) who was present
2) how much they knew about topic at hand? - as we can see many arent even aware that there was an SC judgement to change in 2011

There is a huge difference between having a SC judgement and having it implemented properly, I hope you know that.

Btw, the article did throw up some names of the participants and quoted a few, are they credible enough or should we throw this article also in garbage and focus on the third one?

I think this is related to the 1st article which also dealt with NCJP

BTW, BEFORE I PROCEED...how is it a discussion when I am the only one typing while you arent contributing?

Isnt this another name for just throwing articles - the same as 1 liners?

No, it is not related to the first one, this one is from October 2012, and the first one is from May 2015 and that article also mentions a 2014 SC judgement.

And no, I am not putting all the burden of writing on you only, I am with you...

 

[Dubious]

Raza Rumi, Director of Policy and Programmes at the Jinnah Institute, opened the discussion by highlighting the urgent need for curriculum and textbook reform to achieve a more tolerant and peaceful Pakistan. Mr. Rumi also pointed out that cooperation between all stakeholders in the education sector is required to achieve better policy outcomes, and the Jinnah Institute roundtable is an effort towards that. “We need to find a balance between civil society and government initiatives so that important and innovative solutions to curriculum-related issues can be implemented,” Mr. Rumi said.

So he is suggesting a solution...whats to discuss?

Mr. Peter Jacob, Executive Director of the National Commission for Justice and Peace shared NCJP’s report

The same man's report is being quoted but the source of the report nor the report is not given anywhere (like report can be found here or something so one can have a look themselves at such things)

NCJP’s report

I dont know where is this bloody report that everyone is quoting!
Even the 2015 article was quoting PETER...its like he did some work in god knows what year (since this 2012 article also is talking of the same guy and same NCJP report - even if they produce it everyear...the comments are the same if you analyze! The samethings are again highlighted in your 1st article which also talks about the samethings by the same person!!! So when exactly was this report ACTUALLY PUBLISHED? And which factors and when were these factors measured? How long did it take to write the report? Did the parameters change?)

This below is from article 1 - which is also found in this very article from 2012 (so 2015 is still highlighting 2012? What about highlighting 2011 reforms? Did it not change anything or are people frozen in time?):

Peter Jacob quoted some excerpts from textbooks, highlighting some of the “shameful and intolerant perspectives being drilled into the minds of children”. Those excerpts portrayed non-Muslims as negative, preached open hatred, and declared the Muslims more superior. In some places even eminent figures of other religions were regarded as inferior.

When were these taken? Which textbooks? Which province? Who put them together? Where is the original findings? Were they reported? If no why not? If yes to whom and where is the link to the source?

review the subtle messages

So its not exactly clear cut how others are portraying it as?

leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)

We all know where MQM stands...funding from india

discriminated against and deprived of the opportunity to live as full citizens of Pakistan through a flawed and biased education system.

Again...it is more to do with the working system which I have repeatedly bashed everywhere! There was a thread reporting soo many reserved seats for minorities empty coz some ministers were hogging on to them and not appointing....So what the education system has to do with opportunities is beyond me esp when you have ministers hogging on to empty seats!

Through a consultative process and by engaging a variety of stakeholders, the Jinnah Institute hopes to develop dialogue and momentum for a comprehensive review of Pakistani curricula and textbooks that will help create a more tolerant and peaceful Pakistan.

And I think they did this as 1 of the many articles you were throwing at me previously did highlight that SC did do this!

You can always answer the question in simple words, do Pakistani text books have religious bigotry and hate content at present?

1) which syllabus?
2) at present - probably a bit ...I havent seen the present textbooks as none of my cousins go to grade 10 or anything below...almost all are in collage...will need to wait until my nieces and nephews start schooling to know!

There is a huge difference between having a SC judgement and having it implemented properly, I hope you know that.

Oh I forgot you didnt read the article you posted even after I quoted from it....

Our textbooks and the lies they teach - The Express Tribune

-
Published: April 14, 2011

So what you presented before 2011 isnt valid :

While the Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa textbook boards have been updating curricula, those in Sindh and Balochistan have not done so for nearly a decade.

Sindh government has finally made some headway now on the issue. The education department is working to update and align textbooks with the 2006 guidelines agreed to by all provinces.

Curricula to be cleansed of hatred - - DAWN.COM

PUBLISHEDJUL 27, 2010 12:00AM

PESHAWAR, July 26 Textbooks taught in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

are to be rewritten after taking out hate material from them and introducing texts in its place that purport to promote love, peace and brotherhood.

10. Another.

Mortal threat: Reforming education to check extremism - The Express Tribune

- January 15, 2011

The

Afghan government is setting up Islamic seminaries to attract students, who cross over to Pakistan for religious schooling, while on this side of the Durand Line the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government is engaged in reforming the syllabus in the province.

So we now know where the shit came from!

Btw, the article did throw up some names of the participants and quoted a few, are they credible enough or should we throw this article also in garbage and focus on the third one?

I dont know those people....if they know what they are talking about good to know...if they bring a change then even better

No, it is not related to the first one, this one is from October 2012, and the first one is from May 2015 and that article also mentions a 2014 SC judgement.

Found it!

So 2015 article talks of a report from 2014 so where does the 2012 report come from and do you know where the ORIGINAL reports are so we can compare when EACH study was done, which province and other such issues!

 

[dray]

No but you are crying about things where changes have already been applied or atleast an attempt to rectify is going on! So why not highlight that?

I think this comment of yours calls for the third article, The Express Tribune dated August 31, 2012, and it is talking about Pakistani textbooks for the academic year 2012-13. Though it quotes some common names, but they seem to be more vocal ones.

School curricula: ‘Hate content in textbooks has increased since 2009’
By Aroosa Shaukat
Published: August 31, 2012

As many as seven lessons with hate content are part of the 8th class Urdu curriculum for 2012-2013, compared to none in 2009, says the report. DESIGN: JAHANZAIB HAQUE

LAHORE:
Hate content in textbooks used in the Punjab has increased from ‘45 lines in 2009 to 122 in 2012’, a content analysis report published by the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) said on Thursday. The report titled Education or Promotion of Hatred was distributed at a conference, Biases in Textbooks and Education Policy, organised by the NCJP on Thursday.

The study examined 22 textbooks for the academic year 2012-13 in the Punjab and Sindh from classes 1 to 10.

The report says that one of the 30 chapters in the general knowledge textbooks for class 1 has content advocating intolerance. It says there has been a ‘marked increase’ in hate content in the curricula of classes 7 to 10.

In 2009-2011, it says, 12 chapters in various textbooks at these levels contained hate material. The number of such chapters has increased to 33.

As many as seven lessons with hate content are part of the 8th class Urdu curriculum for 2012-2013, compared to none in 2009, it says. It also says said that the number of such lessons in the Pakistan studies textbooks for classes 9 and 10 had increased to three in 2012 from none in 2009. It says that hate lessons that were part of the class 6 social studies and class 7 Islamiat books in 2009 had been excluded from the 2012 curricula.

Speaking at the launch Dr Mehdi Hasan, the School of Media and Communication dean at the Beaconhouse National University, said Muslims posed a greater danger to their fellow Muslims then to non Muslims in Pakistan.

He said, seminaries, where less than 4 per cent of the Pakistani children studied in Pakistan, did not pose a greater threat than schools, where hate material was being taught to students as young as to be in class 1.

He said, “Teaching students that a certain religion teaches ‘bad things’ is not just a violation of human rights but also a severe ethical violation.”

Dr Hasan said that a religious state was not a democratic state. He said that Pakistan had been established through a democratic process.

Wajahat Masood, an assistant professor at BNU, said future generations will likely judge the present as ‘sub-human and insensitive’.

He said hate content and distortion of history was evident in curricula as well as in Pakistani literature. Masood said that sectarian and religious discrimination should be recognised as ‘vulgar’ and discouraged.

Irfan Mufti, deputy director at the South Asia Partnership Pakistan, said that hate content in school syllabi spoke volume of an intolerant society.

“Hate content will turn our children into intolerant individuals,” he warned.

Dr Baela Raza Jamil, director of programmes at the Idara-i-Taleem-O-Aagahi highlighted the Compulsory Education Act that was passed recently by the Senate for Islamabad. She said the Act had failed to mention religion as a reason for which no discrimination would be allowed in provision of education.

‘She said after the devolution of powers to the provinces, each province was responsible for regulating its curricula.

Dr AH Nayyar, visiting professor at the Lahore University of Management Sciences, regretted that many such reports had been issued previously, but the matters had become worse instead of improving.

NCJP Executive Director Peter Jacob regretted that textbooks were being used to promote hatred in the country.

“Religious discrimination cannot be eliminated unless people working for it are demotivated,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2012.

School curricula: ‘Hate content in textbooks has increased since 2009’ - The Express Tribune

So he is suggesting a solution...whats to discuss?


The same man's report is being quoted but the source of the report nor the report is not given anywhere (like report can be found here or something so one can have a look themselves at such things)


I dont know where is this bloody report that everyone is quoting!
Even the 2015 article was quoting PETER...its like he did some work in god knows what year (since this 2012 article also is talking of the same guy and same NCJP report - even if they produce it everyear...the comments are the same if you analyze! The samethings are again highlighted in your 1st article which also talks about the samethings by the same person!!! So when exactly was this report ACTUALLY PUBLISHED? And which factors and when were these factors measured? How long did it take to write the report? Did the parameters change?)

This below is from article 1 - which is also found in this very article from 2012 (so 2015 is still highlighting 2012? What about highlighting 2011 reforms? Did it not change anything or are people frozen in time?):

When were these taken? Which textbooks? Which province? Who put them together? Where is the original findings? Were they reported? If no why not? If yes to whom and where is the link to the source?


So its not exactly clear cut how others are portraying it as?


We all know where MQM stands...funding from india


Again...it is more to do with the working system which I have repeatedly bashed everywhere! There was a thread reporting soo many reserved seats for minorities empty coz some ministers were hogging on to them and not appointing....So what the education system has to do with opportunities is beyond me esp when you have ministers hogging on to empty seats!


And I think they did this as 1 of the many articles you were throwing at me previously did highlight that SC did do this!


1) which syllabus?
2) at present - probably a bit ...I havent seen the present textbooks as none of my cousins go to grade 10 or anything below...almost all are in collage...will need to wait until my nieces and nephews start schooling to know!


Oh I forgot you didnt read the article you posted even after I quoted from it....

-
Published: April 14, 2011

So what you presented before 2011 isnt valid :







PUBLISHEDJUL 27, 2010 12:00AM





- January 15, 2011
So we now know where the shit came from!

That roundtable and that article are from one of your own Pakistani institutes, you just need to tell me if that Jinnah Institute and the people quoted in that article are credible or not, just reject the article if they are not credible, here is the JI team: JI | The JI Team

 

[Dubious]

The Express Tribune dated August 31, 2012, and it is talking about Pakistani textbooks for the academic year 2012-13.

Where does this say this? or is this your assumption?

I will read the 3rd article tomorrow as I have no time to analyze in details right now!

That roundtable and that article are from one of your own Pakistani institutes, you just need to tell me if that Jinnah Institute and the people quoted in that article are credible or not, just reject the article if they are not credible, here is the JI team: JI | The JI Team

The quick answer is I dont know! I have never worked with them nor talked to them.... I have never read their individual articles / thoughts ...so I how can I judge?

 

[Jacob Martin]

i don't think you are sane.prove?your religion holds such stuff.what else do i need to prove.go search anywhere on the net.read any hindu scripture.you'll find it.unbelieveable,it truly is impossible to win an argument against stupid endians like you.
This argument is like this.....I
I present you a rock.your statement,"THIS IS NOT A ROCK,THIS IS A SPACESHIP AND BUNNIES WERE ABOARD THIS SHIP"
ME

I said, prove that Indian textbooks contain the kind of hateful propaganda that Pakistani schoolbooks contain. Even if I were to accept your nonsensical post about my religion (I am an atheist, by the way), how does that satisfy the condition of proving that Indian textbooks contain the same hateful bigotry as Pakistani textbooks do?

 

[Dubious]

The report

I would like this report....to read it for myself instead of feeding off what the media reporter summarized - with or without understanding it! To sensationalize or to spread truth can only be decided ONCE this report is read!

 

[Jacob Martin]

View attachment 263041



The problem with these so called big guys is that they are those bigots who have never visited Pakistan and talk on the basis of assumptions and stereotypes whereas I talk from first hand experience of interacting with Pakistanis on a daily basis.
There are certain flaws with our education system but those flaws are not as big as your "big guys" say they are. My posts based on personal observation of the attitude of a common Pakistani and the impact of "hate material" on his views does not mean that what I say is of no value or is baseless.

Your views are of no importance because the people who are reading these posts can see that you contribute NOTHING to the conversation. You are an ignorant, immature loudmouth, that's all.

I showed schools in West do it, private schools do it.

How, by making the unsubstantiated argument that they ask students to recite Christian prayers? Here are guys quoting numerous articles and papers, and here are you, with just your own word as gospel. Why the hypocrisy?

 

[dray]

Where does this say this? or is this your assumption?

In the beginning paras only, from the article: "The study examined 22 textbooks for the academic year 2012-13 in the Punjab and Sindh from classes 1 to 10".

The quick answer is I dont know! I have never worked with them nor talked to them.... I have never read their individual articles / thoughts ...so I how can I judge?

Fair enough, if that Jinnah Institute is not widely known, then we can safely ignore their roundtable meeting and whatever they discuss there, and focus on the 4th article from Dawn, dated October 1, 2014.

Please note that the article is mentioning a research on this subject in February 2014 and a recent US study of 2014, the 2011 Pew Research Center study mentioned at the bottom is just a reference, and not the basis of this article.

Feel free to reply tomorrow, I will wait.


‘Pakistan schools teach Hindu hatred’
AP — UPDATED OCT 01, 2014 08:27PM

ISLAMABAD: Text books in Pakistani schools foster prejudice and intolerance of Hindus and other religious minorities, while most teachers view non-Muslims as ''enemies of Islam,'' according to a study by a US government commission released on Wednesday.

The findings indicate how deeply ingrained hard-line Islam is in Pakistan and help explain why militancy is often supported, tolerated or excused in the country.

''Teaching discrimination increases the likelihood that violent religious extremism in Pakistan will continue to grow, weakening religious freedom, national and regional stability, and global security,'' said Leonard Leo, the chairman of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Pakistan was created in 1947 as a homeland for the Muslims of South Asia and was initially envisaged as a moderate state where minorities would have full rights.

But three wars with mostly Hindu India; support for militants fighting Soviet-rule in Afghanistan in the 1980s; and the appeasement of hard-line clerics by weak governments seeking legitimacy have led to a steady radicalisation of society.

Religious minorities and those brave enough to speak out against intolerance have often been killed, seemingly with impunity, by militant sympathizers.

The commission warned that any significant efforts to combat religious discrimination, especially in education, would ''likely face strong opposition'' from hardliners.

The study reviewed more than 100 textbooks from grades 1-10 from Pakistan's four provinces.

Researchers in February this year visited 37 public schools, interviewing 277 students and teachers, and 19 madrases, where they interviewed 226 students and teachers.

The Islamisation of textbooks began under the US-backed rule of army dictator Gen. Zia-ul-Haq, who courted Islamists to support his rule.

In 2006, the government announced plans to reform the curriculum to address the problematic content, but that has not been done, the study said.

Pakistan's Islamist and right-wing polity would likely oppose any efforts to change the curriculum, and the government has shown no desire to challenge them on the issue.

The report found systematic negative portrayals of minorities, especially Hindus and to a lesser extent to Christians.

Hindus make up more than one per cent of Pakistan's 180 million people, while Christians represent around two per cent. Some estimates put the numbers higher.

There are also even smaller populations of Sikhs and Buddhists.

''Religious minorities are often portrayed as inferior or second-class citizens who have been granted limited rights and privileges by generous Pakistani Muslims, for which they should be grateful,'' the report said.

''Hindus are repeatedly described as extremists and eternal enemies of Islam whose culture and society is based on injustice and cruelty, while Islam delivers a message of peace and brotherhood, concepts portrayed as alien to the Hindu.''

The books don't contain many specific references to Christians, but those that ''that do exist seem generally negative, painting an incomplete picture of the largest religious minority in Pakistan,'' the report said.

Attempts to reach Pakistan's education minister were not successful.

The textbooks make very little reference to the role played by Hindus, Sikhs and Christians in the cultural, military and civic life of Pakistan, meaning ''a young minority student will thus not find many examples of educated religious minorities in their own textbooks,'' the report said.

''In most cases historic revisionism seems designed to exonerate or glorify Islamic civilisation, or to denigrate the civilisations of religious minorities,'' the report said.

''Basic changes to the texts would be needed to present a history free of false or unsubstantiated claims which convey religious bias.''

The researchers also found that the books foster a sense that Pakistan's Islamic identity is under constant threat.

''The anti-Islamic forces are always trying to finish the Islamic domination of the world,'' read one passage from social studies text being taught to Grade 4 students in Punjab province, the country's most populated.

''This can cause danger for the very existence of Islam. Today, the defense of Pakistan and Islam is very much in need.''

The report states that Islamic teachings and references were commonplace in compulsory text books, not just religious ones, meaning Pakistan's Christians, Hindus and other minorities were being taught Islamic content.

It said this appeared to violate Pakistan's constitution, which states that students should not have to receive instruction in a religion other than their own.

The attitudes of the teachers no doubt reflect the general intolerance in Pakistan.

The 2011 Pew Research Center study found the country is the third most intolerant in the world, but because of the influence they have, they are especially worrisome.

Their views were frequently nuanced and sometimes contradictory.

‘Pakistan schools teach Hindu hatred’ - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

 

[Jacob Martin]

Zia is the escape goat for failed institutions ...This is a big issue if you would like to know more have a look at what was ALREADY established during Zia's time and how he just followed within the established boundaries: Why blame Zia for every ill in Pakistan?

Yes, you are partially right. The extremist positions in Pakistani school curriculum were first fleshed out under Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. So? What does that prove for your point? And how does that have anything to do with negating the existence of such instances in your curriculum in the first place?

You already efficiently wasted hrs of my time last time.

How did he waste your time? He did the research, he cited the articles, all you did was deny the content. So how was it a waste of your time and not his?

Though I hate the guy as per what he writes

You might hate him (Pervez Hoodbhoy), but he studied at MIT, and is well-respected around the world. Whereas, who are you, once again?

The Indian education system, was right, at least it was for the CBSE, ICSE/ISC and the state board in particular, the curriculum of which I followed, when I was a student of 10th standard. I hear, they are trying to make changes there. I dont know how much truth is in it, I will check. But, if the rumours that I hear are correct, then we are going in a wrong direction.

@Sky lord

There will be no major change. Every time a BJP government comes to power, they do try to insert a few things in to please the Saffron Brigade in the garb of "Nationalist" history and such nonsense. The government even tries to appoint a few Hindutva fans to important educational positions in HRD ministry and CBSE/UGC. But it rarely works out that way - Indian educational institutions are so heavily leftist that any such move generates a shit-storm and the government invariably backs down.

 

[Imran Khan]

 

[VCheng]

Qadri's lawyer says otherwise, that Islamism trumps all and the SC is taking this seriously.

Neither Qadri nor his lawyer has a role to play is setting or changing the curriculum, and not even the Supreme Court, at least not directly.

 

[Jacob Martin]

Key point is that its not in our nature/ culture/ tradition not even in our CONSTITUTION to preach hate!!

Prove your assertion, please...

Neither Qadri nor his lawyer has a role to play is setting or changing the curriculum, and not even the Supreme Court, at least not directly.

But it were those educated in Pakistani schools who were showering him with rose petals....

 

[VCheng]

But it were those educated in Pakistani schools who were showering him with rose petals....

Yes, but that is a much more complex issue to dissect, not just due to the curriculum. Look at it this way: do you think the lawyers would have acted better had they been educated differently? Not really. A majority of Pakistani society, even those educated in the West, harbor similar view. Witness the many here who fit that description, as an indication of just how complex this issue has grown over the decades. The curriculum is only one part of it.