THE curriculum prescribed by the Punjab Curriculum Textbook Board (PCTB) for intermediate students recently requires Muslim students to study Tarjamatul Quran, while non-Muslim students are offered the subject of Ethics. This has been the practice across the country for long.

I strongly believe that the inclusion of Ethics in the curriculum for Muslim students is equally crucial and should be made available to them in college classes. This is not to suggest the inclusion of Ethics at the cost of religion-based subjects. It should be in addition to the curriculum.

The subject holds immense significance regardless of one’s religious orientation. This will encourage Muslim students to strive to become better individuals and responsible citizens.

By studying Ethics, students gain knowledge about huqooqul ebad (one’s rights and obligations in dealing with fellow human beings), which is a fundamental aspect of Islamic teachings. This understanding is essential for Muslims to enhance their understanding of their faith and develop a strong moral compass.

Promoting Ethics as a subject in college classes will provide Muslim students with an opportunity to explore the principles of ethical behaviour in a broader context. It will enable them to understand and practise the values of compassion, justice, honesty and respect, which are not only integral to Islam, but also crucial for a harmonious society.

Moreover, by incorporating Ethics into the curriculum, the education system will foster an environment of inclusivity and diversity, where students from different religious backgrounds may engage in meaningful dialogue and learn from each other’s perspectives. This will promote tolerance, mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence among students of diverse faiths, strengthening the social fabric of the nation.

The PCTB and its counterparts in all provinces and the federal territory need to reconsider the curriculum and make Ethics available to Muslim students in college classes. This step will reflect a progressive approach to education that recognises the importance of ethical education for all students irrespective of their religious affiliations. It will empower our youth to embrace the principles of morality and ethics, contributing to the development of a morally upright and responsible society.

Let us all strive together to create an education system that not only imparts knowledge, but also instills the values necessary for our students to become compassionate, empathetic and ethically conscious individuals.

Jamil Khwaja
Lahore

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2023