What's new

How Bias in Text books fuels division in Pakistani society

You asked for an example where Pakistani school syllabus teaches hate
I asked for the syllabus not quoting a site that says the report can be found here (and links a not found site)....or articles written by whoever may be angry with whoever :tsk:

Brilliant!
 
You asked for an example where Pakistani school syllabus teaches hate. I gave it to you. You should keep quite at this point, and not proudly flaunt your ignorance/deception.



Clamour for change is never "widespread". Academic syllabi, by their very nature, are a subject that interests very few people, mainly academics themselves. Please do a study of the material available on the internet or in published books on the subject of Pakistani intellectual's response to what is currently taught in Pakistani schools. They are certainly clamouring for change. This is not an issueover which you will see mass protests. So do not use that yardstick. Also, these academics/intellectuals are probably better positioned to understand Pakistan's long-term interests better than its leaders. Pakistan has allowed its leaders to dictate where it goes, and that has not led it to a very good place. It is time it listens to its intellectuals.

It is my country and we will choose what our school kids read. What makes you think we are looking for your endorsement or approval for our school books?
 
Personal attack just shows you have no idea what you are saying and are just proudly flaunting your own deception/ignorance

@Secur the same source is being quoted as usual and now the source cant even be found :rofl:

What rubbish. I posted an article from Dawn. You should seriously consider visiting a psychiatrist.

Good point, since it is obvious that you are ignoring the rather large body of academicians and intellectuals who favor the present curricula. When those clamoring for change gain more influence than their opposing side, then change will be forthcoming as well, but not before. When you say that Pakistan allowed its leaders to dictate where it goes, all I can say is that is what leaders do, by definition. Whether it is a very good place or not also depends on which side of the border one's viewpoints come from, and again, debatable.

Okay, so kindly post a few articles/references that show the support from Pakistani intellectuals for the current curriculum taught in Pakistani schools.

I asked for the syllabus not quoting a site that says the report can be found here (and links a not found site)....or articles written by whoever may be angry with whoever :tsk:

Brilliant!

That article is from Dawn. A newspaper. Do you know what that is?

From Dawn:

‘Pakistan schools teach Hindu hatred’

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.
 
.............
Okay, so kindly post a few articles/references that show the support from Pakistani intellectuals for the current curriculum taught in Pakistani schools.



That article is from Dawn. A newspaper. Do you know what that is?

Fortunately or unfortunately, the process to evaluate changes in the curriculum is a little bit more involved than just a newspaper article, Sir:

Curriculum development process in pakistan (by umair ashraf)

http://www.ijhssnet.com/journals/Vol_1_No_14_October_2011/34.pdf
 
It is my country and we will choose what our school kids read. What makes you think we are looking for your endorsement or approval for our school books?

Oh yes. Keep poisoning your future generation and churning out retarded, hate-filled zombies. You are most welcome!

Fortunately or unfortunately, the process to evaluate changes in the curriculum is a little bit more involved than just a newspaper article, Sir:

Curriculum development process in pakistan (by umair ashraf)

http://www.ijhssnet.com/journals/Vol_1_No_14_October_2011/34.pdf

So your response is to give a PPT with bullet points and offering the credentials and official mumbo-jumbo of the cabal that has wrecked Pakistani education. Great. Anti-intellectualism at its best.
 
Oh yes. Keep poisoning your future generation and churning out retarded, hate-filled zombies. You are most welcome!

Our future generations is our concern. Where do you come in? Feel much entitled somehow?
 
So your response is to give a PPT with bullet points and offering the credentials and official mumbo-jumbo of the cabal that has wrecked Pakistani education. Great. Anti-intellectualism at its best.

If only you read them:

11. Recommendations
On the basis of findings following recommendations are made.
1. Social awareness level of stake holders should be perceived before choosing the objectives of the subject.
2. National institutions of the country should be made aware of the objectives of curriculum in different areas
of the subject.

3. Teaching strategies should be developed for the achievement of the objectives of curriculum.
4. Objectives should be derived on the basis of religious values.
5. Objectives should be finalized after consultation with the experts of the subject concerned.
6. Objectives should be adapted through need assessment regarding the subject.
7. Individual and society relationship should be incorporated in the objectives statements.
8. Content and graphic relationship should be studied by the psychologists before their finalization for the
curriculum.
9. Quality of content material should be ensured before finalizing the curriculum draft.
10. The selected concepts in content material should be presented from simple to complex.
11. The organization of content should be seen by the group of educationists before its final approval.
12. Relationship between learner’s interest and the selected material should be pre-assessed for the
implementation of the curriculum.
13. Inclusion of career related material should be pre-assessed for its recommendations from content.
14. Content reduction strategies should be suggested according to the special needs of the learner.
15. Adaptation strategies for special learners needs should be worked out.
16. Historians should contribute in a proper way through recommendations.
17. Geographers should contribute in a proper way through recommendations before initiating the process of
curriculum development.
18. Suggestions from subject specialists should be invited for the improvement in the content.
19. Vocational institutions should be given proper weightage in curriculum development process.
20. The suggested learning activities should enhance student’s learning regarding objectives.
21. The planned learning activities should be generated creativity in the student.
22. Student’s cognitive needs should be pre-determined for the recommendations of learning activities.
23. The recommended activities should be norms related.
24. Inter relationship between learning activities and instructional objectives should be studied by the
educationists before launching for learners.
25. Effects on learner’s behavior should be studied through research before final approval of the content
material.
26. During the formulation of the curriculum the opinion of the teacher should be given due weightage.
27. Teachers’ opinions should be taken in to consideration for curriculum development for the concerned
subject.
28. Experts from different walks of life should share their ideas in curriculum development.
29. Latest researches in curriculum development should be used to perceive the needs for updating the
curriculum.
30. Study tours of different countries should be arranged for the subject specialists to study the process of
curriculum development in those countries.
31. Curriculum development groups should be framed to update the curriculum development process for
different subjects.
32. Memorandums of understanding should be signed for mutual cooperation with leading countries for
guidance.
33. Public opinions should be invited through media for the improvement of curriculum.
34. World Bank reports regarding curriculum review in the context of Pakistan should be studied to explore the
need assessment in education sector.
35. UNESCO reports in the context of Pakistan should be taken into consideration for the improvement of the
curriculum.
36. The members of curriculum review committee should be selected on merit.
37. An opinion survey from stake holders should be conducted before developing the curriculum.
38. The participation of the concerned teacher of the subject should be compulsory in the curriculum review
committee.
39. Teachers guides availability should be ensured for teacher’s guidance.
40. Curriculum development process should be initiated on the basis of research and analysis of the previous
curriculum.
41. Implementation checks through evaluation of students performance should be designed before launching in
the field.
42. Hypothesis framework of the curriculum improvement should be studied by the group of experts.
43. Special teacher services for the students with special needs should be worked out before launching the
curriculum
 
If only you read them:

11. Recommendations
On the basis of findings following recommendations are made.
1. Social awareness level of stake holders should be perceived before choosing the objectives of the subject.
2. National institutions of the country should be made aware of the objectives of curriculum in different areas
of the subject.

3. Teaching strategies should be developed for the achievement of the objectives of curriculum.
4. Objectives should be derived on the basis of religious values.
5. Objectives should be finalized after consultation with the experts of the subject concerned.
6. Objectives should be adapted through need assessment regarding the subject.
7. Individual and society relationship should be incorporated in the objectives statements.
8. Content and graphic relationship should be studied by the psychologists before their finalization for the
curriculum.
9. Quality of content material should be ensured before finalizing the curriculum draft.
10. The selected concepts in content material should be presented from simple to complex.
11. The organization of content should be seen by the group of educationists before its final approval.
12. Relationship between learner’s interest and the selected material should be pre-assessed for the
implementation of the curriculum.
13. Inclusion of career related material should be pre-assessed for its recommendations from content.
14. Content reduction strategies should be suggested according to the special needs of the learner.
15. Adaptation strategies for special learners needs should be worked out.
16. Historians should contribute in a proper way through recommendations.
17. Geographers should contribute in a proper way through recommendations before initiating the process of
curriculum development.
18. Suggestions from subject specialists should be invited for the improvement in the content.
19. Vocational institutions should be given proper weightage in curriculum development process.
20. The suggested learning activities should enhance student’s learning regarding objectives.
21. The planned learning activities should be generated creativity in the student.
22. Student’s cognitive needs should be pre-determined for the recommendations of learning activities.
23. The recommended activities should be norms related.
24. Inter relationship between learning activities and instructional objectives should be studied by the
educationists before launching for learners.
25. Effects on learner’s behavior should be studied through research before final approval of the content
material.
26. During the formulation of the curriculum the opinion of the teacher should be given due weightage.
27. Teachers’ opinions should be taken in to consideration for curriculum development for the concerned
subject.
28. Experts from different walks of life should share their ideas in curriculum development.
29. Latest researches in curriculum development should be used to perceive the needs for updating the
curriculum.
30. Study tours of different countries should be arranged for the subject specialists to study the process of
curriculum development in those countries.
31. Curriculum development groups should be framed to update the curriculum development process for
different subjects.
32. Memorandums of understanding should be signed for mutual cooperation with leading countries for
guidance.
33. Public opinions should be invited through media for the improvement of curriculum.
34. World Bank reports regarding curriculum review in the context of Pakistan should be studied to explore the
need assessment in education sector.
35. UNESCO reports in the context of Pakistan should be taken into consideration for the improvement of the
curriculum.
36. The members of curriculum review committee should be selected on merit.
37. An opinion survey from stake holders should be conducted before developing the curriculum.
38. The participation of the concerned teacher of the subject should be compulsory in the curriculum review
committee.
39. Teachers guides availability should be ensured for teacher’s guidance.
40. Curriculum development process should be initiated on the basis of research and analysis of the previous
curriculum.
41. Implementation checks through evaluation of students performance should be designed before launching in
the field.
42. Hypothesis framework of the curriculum improvement should be studied by the group of experts.
43. Special teacher services for the students with special needs should be worked out before launching the
curriculum

From the parts that you quote in bold, all I can understand is that there is ample scope for vested interests to hijack the process of setting the syllabus. Who are these institutions and why should their opinion be taken while deciding what should be contained in textbooks? A government that decides it wishes to keep up old enmities, a media that fans the flames, historians who have a socio-ethno-religious re-engineering agenda. All the parties that are mentioned have a proven track record in Pakistan of obfuscation and outright subversion of facts. These are just bland prescriptions that do not, in any way, take away from the fact that these guidelines are followed in a perverse manner. The existence of guidelines themselves is no proof as to the soundness of the system per se.

.
 
From the parts that you quote in bold, all I can understand is that there is ample scope for vested interests to hijack the process of setting the syllabus. Who are these institutions and why should their opinion be taken while deciding what should be contained in textbooks? A government that decides it wishes to keep up old enmities, a media that fans the flames, historians who have a socio-ethno-religious re-engineering agenda. All the parties that are mentioned have a proven track record in Pakistan of obfuscation and outright subversion of facts. These are just bland prescriptions that do not, in any way, take away from the fact that these guidelines are followed in a perverse manner. The existence of guidelines themselves is no proof as to the soundness of the system per se.

.

Sir, the point is that the system, imperfect as you point out it is, is so by design and delivers the intended results. You and I may disagree, but that is the way it is, clearly.
 
Our future generations is our concern. Where do you come in? Feel much entitled somehow?

I am afraid that a system that has clearly failed to produce any tangible deliverables apart from rabid and convenient nationalism, fanaticism and wilful ignorance has very poor grounds for claiming propriety rights over future generations. What you are clearly saying is that they are ours to throw into the gutter of ignorance and resultant destitution, just as was done to the Pakistanis of this generation by the powers-that-be.

Sir, the point is that the system, imperfect as you point out it is, is so by design and delivers the intended results. You and I may disagree, but that is the way it is, clearly.

What is the intended result, in your opinion?
 
There is nothing of concern there...A Muslim is asked to study religious studies (which basically are bible studies) in the secular West or have ethic classes with examples given from the bibles but God forbid a Muslim country teaches non Muslims Islamic material :tsk:

In the secular wear students in public schools are not forced to study any religion. Christianity is not taught to anyone in schools in Canada or the US. School is a place to learn and gain knowledge not to be fed propaganda and religious extremism.

Go to any Convent or one of those private schools in even a secular country they will teach you prayers from the bible....Heck even in some private schools in Pakistan have that...

The article is talking about public and private schools not your run of the mill
Madrasahs so don't compare what they teach in convent schools to public schools. Public and private schools in the west do not make it compulsory to learn about any religion. Obviously if you are in a catholic school, you will be taught about Christianity. That is like being taught about Islam in madrassas.

Apparently our experts here have no problem with that as that agrees with their masters of spewing hatred against Islam or showing Pakistan in a bad light IRRESPECTIVE of what the other side is teaching but god for bid anyone teaches anyone about Islam :tsk:

You are not only delusional but also extremely ignorant. The reality is Pakistani education is shit and filled with hatred and propaganda. It is no wonder why Pakistanis are so delusional and misinformed like yourself. Pakistani curriculum speed garbage about hatred against other religions or how Muslims ruled India for a thousand years (lmao). When fairy tales like a man surviving inside a whale for a number of days or a man being able to talk to God or animals are presented as facts, it is no wonder why Pakistanis lack critical thinking skills. Less religion and more science would go a long way.

I agree this part but please describe hate...if they are talking about calling Isa a prophet as hatred or that Muhammad was the last prophet ...then saying god died on the cross is also teaching hatred to ALL NON CHRISTIANS, no?

All of this stuff can be taught in madrassas. There is no reason for it to be taught in private or public schools. Non Muslims and even Muslims should not be forced to learn about Islam. It is not the duty of teachers to teach their students about religion. Religion has no place in the education system.
 

Back
Top Bottom