Textbooks

Letter December 30, 2012
Textbooks remain the teacher’s only source of content knowledge, instructional activities and ideas for lessons.

KARACHI: It is assumed that school subjects can only be taught and learnt through textbooks because these books have been designed to complement and supplement teaching and learning. Repetitive drill and practice exercises given in these textbooks can enhance student learning.

In a country like Pakistan, textbooks remain the teacher’s only source of content knowledge, instructional activities and ideas for lessons. Teachers usually believe that authority and source of content knowledge lies with the author of a textbook and that it is reliable and unchangeable. Consequently, the role of a mathematics teacher has become more of a transmitter of textbook-based knowledge to students. Moreover, parents also expect and demand that schools use textbooks since their children have to sit annual exams, which contain material taught in the textbooks.


Kalander Bux Memon


Aga Khan University – Institute for Educational Development


Published in The Express Tribune, December 31st, 2012.