Author: Khalid Hasan
Publication: The Daily Times, Lahore,
Pakistan
Date: December 3, 2004
Pakistan's education reforms, which
really mean modernising and de- radicalising the existing madrassas (Islamic
seminaries), will now remain under sharp and direct American focus following
the passage of a bill through both houses of Congress on 20 November.
Under the new law, the Secretary
of State is required to report to the federal legislature the progress
of education reform in Pakistan. HR 4818, entitled Foreign Operations,
Export Financing, Related Programmes Appropriations Act 2005 makes it obligatory
for US Secretary of State to submit a report to the appropriate congressional
committees not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the Act,
the strategy of the Government of Pakistan to implement education reform
in Pakistan, and the strategy of the Government of the United States to
assist Pakistan to achieve that objective.
The administration will also be
required now to provide information on the amount of funding, "obligated
and expended by the Government of Pakistan and the Government of the United
States, respectively, for education reform in Pakistan, since January 1,
2002; expected to be provided by the Government of Pakistan and the Government
of the United States, respectively, for education reform in Pakistan, including
any assistance to be provided by the United States pursuant to the commitment
of President Bush to provide $3,000,000,000 in assistance to Pakistan during
fiscal year 2005 through fiscal year 2009; and discussing progress made
in achieving education reform in Pakistan since January 1, 2002."
Pakistan's progress in terms of
educational reforms will be overseen by made by the Committees on Appropriations
and International Relations of the House of Representatives and the Committees
on Appropriations and Foreign Relations of the Senate. The new law defines
"education reform" as including "efforts to expand and improve the secular
education system in Pakistan, and to develop and utilise a moderate curriculum
for private religious schools in Pakistan."
