HYDERABAD: Sindh Minister for Education Syed Sardar Ali Shah has announced that a comprehensive review of textbooks for the academic year 2025-26 will be undertaken to align the syllabi with modern and inclusive standards.

He was chairing a meeting in the Sindh Textbook Board’s Jamshoro office on Tuesday. STB chairman Pervaiz Ahmed Baloch and other officials attended the meeting.

The minister underscored the need for identifying and removing hateful content, if any, from textbooks and fostering a culture of tolerance and mutual respect through education.

He called for strengthening the Directorate of Curriculum, Assessment and Research (DCAR) in developing textbooks that could give a boost to students’ mental, physical, emotional and social growth.

Stresses curricula must teach students respect for all religions, wants chapters on Sindh’s history and heroes included

“Education must go beyond transmission of information; it should inspire students to become positive and conscientious individuals,” he said. Sardar Shah also emphasised the need for reforms in the STB, proposing that its functions should be limited to printing, designing and distributing books. He revealed that a proposal was under consideration to transform the board into a company under Companies Act in order to enhance its efficiency.

He asked for inclusion in textbooks of the chapters that could foster creative thinking and eliminating any content that could foment hate. He stressed the importance of integrating Sindh’s history, heroes and notable figures into curriculum to help students connect with their cultural identity.

“It is crucial to educate students about Sindh’s historical identity as a land of peace, tolerance and unity. Curriculum must teach respect for all religions,” he added.

The minister directed the STB chairman to expedite the printing process of the textbooks for the coming academic year without any delay to ensure their timely availability.

He said the review was aimed at providing students with textbooks that could promote inclusivity, respect and holistic development.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2024