Hate content in Punjab, Sindh school curricula
Students taking an exam – APP (File Photo)
The primary and secondary schools curricula (being taught to children in public and private schools in Punjab and Sindh) is replete with content that can fan hatred, prejudices, torture, extremism and religious intolerance in society.
The curricula ‘hate material’ is mostly targeted at religious minorities including Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and the neighbouring country, India. There is also a lot of material that has the potential to turn innocent minds against the Englishmen.
Despite hectic and repeated efforts by human rights organisations and impartial educationists aimed at pointing out negativity being promoted through textbooks, especially for the last three decades, the latest textbooks have more hate content than those written previously.
A content analysis report (of the books published by Punjab and Sindh textbook boards) prepared by the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), entitled “Education or Fanning Hate” says the hate content has increased manifold with the passage of time. Many textbooks that had no hate material in their earlier versions, now carry such material both in Punjab and Sindh.
Educationists believe that now the issue of religious intolerance should be discussed openly and that must lead to some action to save younger students from such influences at the outset.
The content analysis report on Punjab textbooks states that there were 45 lines containing hate material in the books published in 2009-11, which rose to 122 lines in 2012. Urdu and Pakistan Studies’ textbooks for Class-VII, VIII, IX and X were found to be the “most-affected” as the hate material swelled from 15 lines to 86 lines this year. In all, 22 lessons in the current primary and secondary schools curricula have hate content.
According to the report, the 2009 textbooks for Class-IX and X Urdu (grammar and composition), Class-IX Pakistan Studies textbook, Class-VI History book and Class-VIII social studies had no hate content but the latest versions of these textbooks have three, three, one and four lessons, respectively, that contain such material. The Class-VIII Urdu textbook had also one such lesson, but in the new book the number has risen to three.
The report also mentions that hate material lessons which were part of Class-VII Islamiyat and Class-VIII social studies were removed from the latest textbooks. It is worth mentioning, as per the report, that Punjab’s textbooks carry no hate content against Sikhs.
Similarly, the hate material lessons in Sindh Textbook Board (STB) books being taught from Class-I to Class-X in public schools has doubled as compared to 2009-11 textbooks.
The STB Urdu books published during 2009-11 for Class-V, VIII, IX and X carried no hate material but those produced in 2012-13 have one, seven, and one hate material lessons, respectively. The STB, however, removed such material from Class-VI social studies and Class-VII Islamiyat textbooks.
The speakers at a seminar on “Biases in Textbooks and Education Policy” lauded the NCJP’s executive director Peter Jacob and researchers Yousaf Benjamin and Attaur Rehman Saman for highlighting the hate content in the textbooks. They said the effort could lead to removal of such material from curriculum to help build a peaceful and tolerant society in Pakistan. Punjab education minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rahman was conspicuous by his absence from the seminar. Educationist Dr A.H Nayyar said the report had precisely pointed out the rot that was pushing Pakistani society and its future generations towards devastation. “Still, there are no signs that these howlers in textbooks will be removed,” he said dejectedly.
Sharing his past experiences, he said, the anti-liberal and anti-secular forces were working systematically in Pakistan and frustrated all efforts being made in the right direction with one subtle entry. “In 1997, we worked hard to develop an education policy and developed seven policy drafts one after another. Then, the eighth draft came from nowhere that carried a chapter on ‘Islamic education’,” he said.
Educationist Dr Baela Raza Jamil said the 1997-like situation was again witnessed in 2009, when Chapter-IV on ‘Islamic education’ was inserted in the education policy from “backdoor”. Within a month’s time, the education policy was approved by the federal cabinet.
She said the National Curriculum made in 2006 was much better in many ways but it was never implemented. Still, she said, textbooks were being produced that carried hate material and fostering intolerance among Muslims against Hindus, Christians, Sikhs and the Englishmen.
Dr Jamil called for original thinking and its promotion at all levels to change the rotten mindset prevailing in society. She also urged joint efforts, even in terms of subtle actions, rather than just talking on the issue in seminars.
Educationist Dr Mehdi Hassan said the whole world was afraid of religious education being imparted to children in local madrassahs. Stating that only four per cent children were seeking education in madrassahs, he added that if the government ensured quality and unbiased education to 96 children in public and private schools then that four per cent would become irrelevant. “Teachers are neither competent, nor educated and trained enough to develop a nation that could compete at international level,” he regretted.
Commenting that the level of gender discrimination in textbooks was very high, he said, the responsibility to develop a tolerant society lied with the teachers and curriculum-makers.
NCJP’s Peter Jacob stressed that hate material must be eliminated form textbooks otherwise incidents like Hindus migration to India and arrest of 11-year Christian girl Rimsha would continue to happen.
He also called for judicial activism and stressed that different discriminatory matters relating to minorities and biased content in textbooks should be taken to courts.
AAPKI HATE YA DUSHMANI SE HUME KUCHH FARK NAHI PADTA PAR Duniya se ijjat pani hai to duniya ki ijjat karni chahiye, bharosa pana hai to bharosa bhi karna chahiye, pyar pana hai to pyar dena chahiye. mere mulk ne isake liye apni culture, majhab sab kuchh daav pe laga diya. ab duniya humari respect karti hai. azadi KE 65 saslo baad duniyabhar me jo ijjat payi hai yahi hamari poonji hai . aap hume dushman mante hoge par ek baat hamesha dhyan me rakhani chahiye ki dushman bhi insaan hota hai,usame bhi kai goon hote hai, kuch free me sikhne ko mile to sikhna chahiye. SECULARISM BHI ISIMESE EK HAI” .
Pakistan will prosper only when they think forward instead of reverse. Muslims use “Insha Alla ” for every thing., and now it looks like even God is not willing for Pakistan
why no example of this supposed “hate content?”
Exactly… Why Not ?
why do you need the example in the news paper? go and find on your own.. try to use your own mind as well… The current society depicts the truth where there is hate every where….GOD forgive us as we have forgotten the true teachings of Islam which is love and peace only…..Love for All, Hatred for None
An example of these material indeed could be helpful..For people like me,can not access these text books some short examples or weblink could be very informative in this regard..
Rightly pointed out
that’s right. not a single example given. A report without proof is baseless.
I never read anything against any religion atleast in textbook in India. if gauri or gazhnavi or babar attacking india can be heros than why USA attacking iraq is a villain. if any Islamic country could be as powerful as USA is it might had attacked many countries and started forceful conversion.
I have a problem with the heading. Textbooks convert the general guidelines given in the curriculum. The room for interpretation has been usurped over the years leading to politically tainted textbooks, a process initiated after 1965 and later exacerbated under Zia ul Haq. But please make sure that the reader is made aware of the difference between curriculum and textbooks: two distinct documents. The hate material is primarily in the textbooks and not curricula… a technical point may be but important for the readers to know.
I can understand why this is so in Punjab but Sind I can not. What has been PPP doing for over 4 years?
What about hate by BJP, RSS? What about Babri masjid, Gujrat, Bombay?
Buddy no system is perfect and Pakistan has failed to preserve the rights of minority because the establishment has embedded hate in the DNA of young minds I as an Indian don’t hate any one if I don’t love some one
I am stunned to read about the distortion of facts about Hindus,christians and Sikhs in the text books.shame on those who designed these text books.If these people believe in what they have wriiten they should be humiliated publically and imprisoned.I have studied in the the Indian schools and history was taught as it was written in these text books before partition of the Indian subcontinent with zero changes with the partition situation.My Pakistani friends,please rise above the differences and make friends and not enemies..
So much hate from across the border. Their caste system is all based on love.
Dear Mustafa .. Our Cast System is almost over and It will be completely End by 2020…. But what have you done in last 65 Years of Independence.. Kindly do Mention????
I cordially invite you to India to find out hate based on castism in any significant portion of Indian population..
Arun;
So, how is Aurangzeb mentioned in your text books? Let us say vis-a-vis another conqueror like Ashoka. What have you told your children about what happened in Gujarat ten years ago or what happened to the Babri Masjid 20 years ago?
Tumhain lay day ke sari dastan mea yaad hai itna
Keh Aurangzeb Hindu Kush tha zalim tha sitamgar tha
I am from this system and I dont need examples, I can recall my social studies book, when it says “mashriqi bazo” bangladesh was separated because of Indian conspiracy and how they potrayed about 65 war in the books. I used to beleive it for a while, but I realized it while reading other sources and to be honest in Pakistan, these days if we want to learn from our mistakes this is the time. The only problem is with our nation is that there are ignorant about facts and they refuse to read. Also we need to learn from the world, what are they doing and what are doing. Onus is on us not on government.
listen guys! writer has clearly mentioned the chapters and corse name as well. if someone want to look it , it is present in the text books present in almost all the homes . it is in fact a journalistic manner to give only the references not to quote the exact lines and verses. writer put the references in a pretty explaned way.
Land of the Pure…Hate?
How but that content be out in this article so that we all can see and analyze it from all angles.
Hindus and Muslims are all one human being. Let us teach love and freedom.
o yes! they are indeed. we should talk about all the perceution that are taking place in the world. is to the muslim or is it by muslim. lets talk peace!!! why? bcos muslims are not ruthless people, but peaceful……so peace to all.
Here are some examples ( translated )
“Hindus completely controlled the education sector in East Pakistan. They prepared and motivated Bengalis against Pakistan,” states a Grade 10 Pakistan studies book referring to the 1971 split with what is now Bangladesh and published by the Punjab textbook board.
“Hindus can never become true friends with Muslims,” a Grade 5 Islamic studies book by the same board.
“Christian pastors had increased their influence a lot … They used to hold open gatherings in cities and villages, glorify the Christian faith and spoke ill of other religions,” a passage in a Grade 6 social studies book from the Sindh textbook board
Peter Jacob of NCJP pointed out : “There are insulting remarks against minority religions and distorted historical facts. The textbooks heavily rely on the rhetoric that Hindus opposed while Muslims favored the creation of Pakistan. They claim that only Muslims faced violent attacks as well as loss of life and property, and they did not participate in bloodshed. The whole treatment and arrangement of textbooks is visibly discriminatory.”
exactly, There are numerous other examples, which can be quoted to prove that hatred material is being expanded by the influence of clerics. The text boards intentionally propagate it. Body members of text boards are full of volatile extremists. Need to be reviewed .
good points u mention
what is wrong with this content. dont you know who is dictating text contents of books of East Pakistani, Who stopped mayanmar Muslims not to enter Banladesh?? Secondly thats absolutely true, Hindus and Jews can not be your friends ever. You can have good relationships with Christians , offcourse a biopsy affectation prevails atleast with them. So all you mark in your examples is just non sense.
Or factually correct….. we see the reality of hatred for Islam and Pakistan from across the border daily but some of us like to keep our eyes and ears shut.
How about an article on “The history of hate in Pakistani school textbooks” by one of Dawn’s excellent reporters? I remember hearing on the BBC 10 years or so ago (by a reporter named Owen) about the hate expressed in Pakistani textbooks. From the other responses it seems like it was removed in 2006. And now this article says it is there but provides no examples. But of course it hurts Pakistan more than it hurts India. And the hate being blared from TV and LeT is far more damaging.
This article has no substance. You want to know about hate go hear what American Christian preachers and right wing radio hosts say about Islam or the comments Indians put on blogs about Pakistan and Islam. This so National Commission for Justice and Peace is nothing but a NGO pandering to the West and trying to make some money off them.
I concur
very well said! just search any news item on yahoo about the muslim and islam and go through the comments and you will witness the poison.
Go through the history books taught in India for years and you will see how the history is twisted.
And don’t go far, go through the majority comments from neigbours on any Dawn item and witness the truth.Hate is a two way phenomenon and eradication can only work same way.This article seems to be a part of fifth column campaign.
brother their are good and bad people everywhere however as far as our history books are concerned 90% things are factually correct barring few things around Independence and separation……
Bill: American Christian preachers and right wing radio hosts, or Indians writing private blogs do not represent the State. Their reach is not as long. Also, the Governments of US as well as India openly have argued and fought against hatemongers. Can we expect the same from Pakistan?
there is a difference between hateful speech by bloggers and radio hosts and brain washing our children with hate in schools..
There is difference between “state sponsored” and “private”
yes, but now a days every one hats hitler, some day people will say lets not hate him anymore. we need a standard to follow….and we don’t have one. hate is part of human nature. no one in the world say that they do not have hate in them. i say stop all NGOs
What a typical, baseless rationalization! There are obvious differences between state-sponsored hate spewing education vs opinions expressed by (extreme) individuals in the general population of democratic countries. Pakistanis simply do not introspect about their problems – it is so much easier to seek refuge in self seving rationalization. Tragic consequenes…..
You didn’t read the article. It is about Pakistan and not USA.
Very well said.I completely agree that the western media as well the citizens from across the border has nothing better to do except bash Pakistan and Islam.
If this article has substance then where is govt. to stop this.They should replace this material with high standard curriculum because hatred will serve no better.
I believe, if we want to fight this negative propaganda against Islam and Pakistan, we should all lift the weapon of PEN not MISSILES.
Mam views expressed on a blog or social media are of few individuals who have extreme views and I don think majority of Indians think anything bad about Pakistan and please don bring Islam here because we have over 180 million followers of Islam though they have faced some difficulties but still we have tried hard to protect their right of religious freedom and I also accept that their have been some lapses which we need to plug but I will also like to say that we should have a pragmatic and sanguine approach…
Two wrongs don’t make a right.
Bill? Yeah that’s your real name,alright. Hilarious.
Subject of this article is hate content in government approved & sponsored curriculum in Pakistan. School curriculum in public/government schools in USA does carry any such bias. You should not compare government sponsored bias in Pakistani schools with what a radio show host is saying in his private commercial show.
Well free media for grown ups, and inserting hate and intolerance in very young immature brains is different. If you want to compare Americans radio talk shows, they are still less inflammatory than the hate propaganda from our mosques and madrassas. There is no killing in the name of religion in the west comparing to our Islamic republic.
Bravo Bill! Thanks for telling it like it really is. The type and class of our so called reformist platforms and organisations are pathetically way below standards…
Bill, I agree. Right-wing christian preachers and many hindu bloggers spew hatred against Islam and Pakistan. However, we are talking about public education. My two sons went through public education in America. There are no hate materials in terms religion or ethnicity though there is ideological slant towards a particular political philosophy. In India, you can read through high school history without ever knowing that muslim invaders and rulers destroyed no less than 70 prominent hindu temples.
This is one of the gripes of BJP.
BTW, my grandfather was evicted out of Bangladesh during partition. At that time, Bangladesh (East Pakistan) had around 25% hindus. Today, they are less than 10%. On the other hand, West Bengal also had around 25% muslim population around that time. Today it has more than 25% muslum population.
Bill, Its not the preachers that the article is about, its the textbooks that are being
used in schools while distorting the facts for rhe up coming generation. Now if you want to compare our mullas and molvies with the American preachers then its a diffrent story.Cant compare apples with oranges. More over we should look at our values and should not compare with what other country does.
Private citizens will continue to peddle hate and intolerance and there is nothing you can do about it in a free, democratic society. What is objectionable is the government authorities giving vent to their prejudices and influencing children in schools. There is a big difference between the two. I would like the person above to show me one example of an Indian or an American school textbook which peddles hate against minorities in their respective societies.
Mr. Bill don’t compare textbook hate material with blog and christian preachers or muslim preachers. Textbooks affect and poisions the youg chilrens permanently as they have to read the text books, no choice for them. Thus whle society is affected by it.
actually BIll they are talking about hate in school curricula not hate spread by preachers or media.you see Bill you dont find hate easily in the western or other countries school curicula.
Correct. Sadly many Pakistanis seem to have sold themselves to the highest bidder.
@Bill: agreed, but does this allow fanning hatred among Muslims against the minorities. No. Islam does not allows this.
“This artilce has no substance” have u ever looked at the Pakistan studies text books? Any Pakistani who has read them will understand that hate material is there if try to pay attention to the material present. Words like “evil hindu mentality” and phrases like “hindu places of worship were dark and small” are more than enough to prove this point. Hindus and christians r a part of our society too, nobody cares about their feelings.
hate materials in schools to the young generation in pakistan will also tarnish the image of islam – this should be stopped or else the next generation would be worst than today’s pakistan.
A common thought induced in our children is when we say ‘enemy’ its India, when we speak of India its always related with Hinduism. The fact is there are more Muslims in India than in Pakistan, not one has ever complained of the system or the government in last 65years, on the contrary one after another Hindu family in Pakistan are leaving for India to find safe and secure living. Where are we actually heading to? anyone’s guess?
Disaster,I would say!
In Addition to this, Muslim go to mosques freely in India, whereas in our Islamic Republic, if we go to an unguarded mosque, it is highly likely to be attacked by a suicide bomber
So true. My dad had a Hindu man working for him. When I was in grade 5th or 6th, I asked him that if he knew how to read and write Hindi and when was he planning to go to India? It was totally because of propaganda we would learn on TV or radio. My books didn’t have hatred but they did contain distorted historical facts. And then internet came in my life when I grew up.
I learnt a lot of nonsense was being fed to us and facts are far from being true what were told to us.
Such hate material if allowed to continue will close the door of friendship with India for ever.
as if Indian really want friendship….very obvious from the comments by most Indians on Pakistani newpaper forum.
yeah we do want friendship and if you are mistaken by views expressed by few Zealots but sadly that’s not the reality and people like us who have access to Internet and other media should have a sanguine approach my friend
What friendship, LOL
Better closed than open
Back in 1983 when I was in 11th grade (college/high school), we had a very religious Urdu professor (with long beard). One day he was raving about Muslim conquerors like Mahmood Ghaznavi. A student raised his hand and asked as to how we are supposed to feel proud of someone like Mahmood Ghaznavi who had attacked India 17 times, destroyed Hindu temples, and took the gold back home, when in fact destruction of other people’s places of worship is prohibited in Islam. To this line of questioning, he just simply smiled and said: “beta musalman to hamesha butshikan hota hai” (a muslim is always supposed to the destroyer of idols).
So folks, this sort of intolerance was being taught almost 30 years ago. Things have not become any rosier since then.
Truthful history is important to improve ones future and also understand what was important and why certain things were done a certain way. Not everything taught in pakistan is wrong neither is everyone who is saying something against pakistan correct. I also believe it is important at times to do a detailed research onesself. If there are confusions go to different sources and try finding out how much of what is true, what was the political situation of that area at that time and why is one specific person given this status in history books whereas others are not given the same. This i believe goes for everyone in every country. Following the present trend of thoughts is not always wise.
Pakistan’s current generation is paying the price. No jobs, no electricity, no health care etc..
Hate is excellent diet for proper development of the next generation of jihadis. When they grow up these children will spread the message of Islam through instruments such as guns and bombs. They will also uphold the Blasphemy Law in all its glory. According to Pews Survey, 80% of Pakistanis want the country to be run strictly as per Quran. And I find Muslims always desperate to prove the superiority of Islam over other religions. So, such hate education is only to be expected. 80% Pakistanis will probably like such hate content. The other 20% (like readers of DAWN) must think of migrating to some educated and enlightened society before they also become the subjects of such content.
why enlightened societies are declaring Islamic educations and Islamic values more weightage to control their so-called liberal societies? why they are repenting over freedom of woman? why are they trying to hold them in house to keep them away from dis-organized society? Surveys have proven Quranic and Islamic valued societies have less crimes. So dear you need to read Internationale glop surveys and Washington times articles.
Lage raho Pakistani Bhai and Bahen!!! People of Pakistan are in “Tandrawastha” of Mugal Glory and don’t want to wake them up. They thinks that one day Prophet Mohammad will come and rescue them from all this mess till then they have to wait. What to say about a community who are more worried about securing good life after death rather then conquering present day to day misery. No Hope for Pakistan and It’s people.
such remarks will not bring indo-pak frienship. look into your major problem, 400 million indian get one meal a day.
Raj, there are a fair number of Muslim Pakistanis who are as much against all this religious intolerance and hatred as you are. It is a shame and disgrace what our children are being taught. This is why , I do not have my children studying in such schools. They follow the Senior Cambridge curriculum and Islamiyat is retaught them at home. However, I have to agree with you, agar isi tarah lage rahe to Pakistan aur Pakistani Muslims ka bera gharq ho jaega!!!! Education authorities, note and change . Do not be afraid of idiotic Mullahas!!!
Nadeem bhai how many Pakistani has an oppurtunity like you got to get out of the mess. The problem is if you instigate hate in the mind of primary school kids then it remains on their mind forever and in their youth it would be very difficult for them to come out of that delima. Time ie running out for Pakistan. It is said that every four years generations changes. So atlest you need 4 to five generation to wipe out any scar on their mind.
Very well said .