Karachi :

The course outline at different educational institutes is one of the major issues faced by the minorities as well as marginalized groups in Pakistan. Despite that the Christians and Hindus are the largest minority groups, they have been facing he unfavourable structure of syllabus from day one. Most students end up in Islamic Studies classes at both public and private schools, due to a lack of alternative subject teachers.

Besides, Islamic Studies, they are also forced to read or learn Muslim religious topics as part of other subjects like English and Urdu. In this regard, Sindh Education Department claims that they have included other optional subjects in the curriculum, to replace religious subjects to provide assistance and ease to minorities.

However, the concerned department seems to have failed to implement what they claim. The government and education boards, particularly secondary board have failed to implement a separate syllabus in the primarily and middle schools for minority students.

Talking to Daily Times, a Hindu student Kabeer Prakash commented: “Islamic Studies is a part of my curriculum, which is difficult for me to learn because of different belief, as well as pronunciation,” he said, adding that being a Hindu, he does not need to learn the subject. Prakash’s father Permaish told DT that his kids face massive hurdles while learning religious subjects and topics in schools, but they are bound to adjust themselves to it. “I don’t know what is the need for teaching other religion to minority students,” he said adding that minorities are left with no choice but to study Islamic education rather than their own religion in state-run educational institutions.

“In many schools, even the teachers are unaware that there is a parallel subject to Islamic education,” he concluded. Similarly, another student from the Christian community Johan said that he completed his matriculations from a school, where Islamic Studies is compulsory until class ninth.

Pronouncing the words and understanding the religion is only the beginning of the problem, bullying and persecution by students and teachers alike for not being a part of majority is a bigger issue. University of Karachi, Mass Communication, Head of Department (HOD), Prof Dr Tahir Masood said that teaching Islamic Studies forcefully to minorities is a sin itself in Islam.

Violation of minority’s right is strictly prohibited in the teachings of Islam, he said, adding that authorities should make stern policies in this regard. It is necessary to design the curriculum with input and insights from clerics and priests from all religions, including minorities.

The HOD further said that implementation of policies is also very necessary in this regard and ignorance should not be tolerated. A sociologist, Sobia Anees said, “When she was in school, minorities had an option to study Pakistan Studies in place of Islamic Studies, however, many schools do not follow this system.” There is a government policy and provision of parallel and alternative subjects for minorities, as it is their constitutional right.

source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk / Daily Times / Home / by Ahtesham Azhar / Monday, April 01st, 2013