Author: Agencies
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: July 26, 2006
Notwithstanding its decision to pursue the
policy of "enlightened moderation" to stem the growth of fundamentalism,
Pakistan government has said the concept of 'jihad' would not be deleted from
the new school curriculum as it is an integral part of Islamic teachings.
Stating this, Pakistan Education Minister
Asharaf Qazi pointed out that "Jihad has many dimensions which also includes
self-negation. We will teach students the full concept of Jihad".
Qazi, who was also the former Director General
of ISI, told a briefing on the draft of the new curricula for classes 1 to
XII that Sura Islamic teaching, Al Anfal and other suras (verses) over which
certain Western countries had reservations with regard to their Jihad teachings,
were still part of the Islamiyat curriculum.
The new curricula will be implemented in junior
classes from the start of the academic year in 2007 and will be introduced
in all classes up to grade XII by 2009, Daily Times quoted him as saying.
The draft curricula has been sent to the provinces
for recommendations and will be finalised after their proposals are considered,
he said.
Pakistan has begun conducting a review of
the curriculum of various subjects as part of the reform process undertaken
in the aftermath of 9/11 attacks in the United States in 2001.
Qazi said the revised Islamiyat curriculum
has been divided into five topics which including, Quranic teachings, Haqooq
Allah, Rights of God, Life of Prophet Muhammad, etiquette, and prominent personalities
of Islam.
