KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly was informed on Wednesday that ‘anti-democratic content’ inserted in the syllabus of private schools through which the profile of former military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq was shown to be better than that of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto would be removed.

This was stated by Education Minister Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq in the house while replying to supplementary questions of members during the question-hour session.

Responding to a question asked by MPA Saleem Khursheed Khokhar regarding a book, said to be taught in O level schools, containing material in which former military dictator Gen Zia-ul-Haq had been cast in a better light than former primeminister Z.A. Bhutto.

The minister said that the matter related to private schools. He went on to say that the books on history of Pakistan being taught in O level schools included the History and Culture of Pakistan by Nigel Kelly, Pakistan: A Historical and Contemporary Look by Farooq Naseem Bajwa and Pakistan History, Culture and Government by Nigel Smith.

He also told the house that all Cambridge schools were following the curriculum prescribed by the Cambridge System and approved by ministry of education, Islamabad.

He added that the matter was taken up with the federal education ministry for necessary amendment in the curriculum concerning the history of Pakistan being taught in O level schools in Pakistan.

However, the minister said that after the 18th amendment to the Constitution, a meeting was held on April 16, 2011 at the reform support unit, wherein the issue of curriculum was discussed at length and a committee comprising senioreducationists was constituted to review the curriculum policy 2006. Subsequently, the policy guidelines had been given and the committee was working to set the record straight by deleting the ‘anti-democratic material pertaining to military dictator Zia-ul-Haq’.

Responding to a question of the same legislator, he said that Muslim students were taught Islamiat while non-Muslim students were taught Ethics (Akhlaqiat). These books were also printed by the Sindh Textbook Board and supplied in the market.

MPA Arif Mustafa Jatoi asked a question regarding district-wise number of new buildings of all types that were built and for which tenders had been called during the period from April 1, 2008 to Aug 31, 2008.

The minister said that tenders had been called for 11 new schools in Hyderabad, Dadu (11), Jamshoro (1), Sukkur (2), Thatta (3), Tando Allahyar (11), Umderkot (11) Sanghar (40), Shaheed Benazirabad (37), Larkana (16), Badin (17) and TandoMohammad Khan (16).

He further said that most of these schools were built by the previous government on political grounds.