‘Teachers can help raise inclusive, inquisitive society’
Speakers say educators have key role to play in shaping minds of students
Speakers say educators have key role to play in shaping minds of students. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Teachers can help reverse extreme intolerance to dissent while guiding students to determine what is correct.
This was stated by speakers at a panel discussion on the “role of teachers in promoting social and religious harmony” at the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services (PIPS) on Monday.
They added that teachers can sow the seeds of tolerance in a society by inculcating principles of social harmony and inquisitiveness among their students.
Over 40 teachers from various educational institutes participated in the discussion.
Columnist Khursheed Nadeem lamented that people nowadays take extreme positions on topics and have stopped listening to one another. This, she said, results in collective intolerance.
The practice of not listening to diverse views is an aberration from Islamic traditions, noted Khalid Masud, the former chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology.
“Respecting diversity has been our historic strength,” he said, adding that there was a need to revive this tradition.
Teachers can also help reverse the trend of extreme intolerance towards dissent, Masud said, suggesting that teachers should allow their students to decide on their own what is correct.
Religious scholar Amanat Rasool called for teachers to be ‘subject specialists’.
“A teacher of philosophy should be a philosopher too,” he said, adding that only subject specialist teachers can bring their professional experience to the classroom.
The dialogue also discussed the space for non-Muslims in Pakistan.
Centre for Social Justice Executive Director Peter Jacob reflected on global precedents for fostering dialogues among people of different faith.
Romana Bashir, while presenting a case of non-Muslims in Pakistan, asked why are minorities are kept out of the political domain.
She criticised those sections of society which stigmatise people from different faiths.
Journalist Sabookh Syed pointed out that circulation of fake news on social media was damaging social harmony. He, however, pointed out that proper use of the platform can help achieve greater harmony.
PIPS’ Director Muhammad Amir Rana termed social harmony key for living in the modern globalised world, where a majority in one area is a minority in another area.
“Social cohesion has become a yardstick to determine any country’s success. By building cohesive societies, teachers can literally end up building a nation,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 25th, 2017.
Teachers can help reverse extreme intolerance to dissent while guiding students to determine what is correct.
This was stated by speakers at a panel discussion on the “role of teachers in promoting social and religious harmony” at the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services (PIPS) on Monday.
They added that teachers can sow the seeds of tolerance in a society by inculcating principles of social harmony and inquisitiveness among their students.
Over 40 teachers from various educational institutes participated in the discussion.
Columnist Khursheed Nadeem lamented that people nowadays take extreme positions on topics and have stopped listening to one another. This, she said, results in collective intolerance.
The practice of not listening to diverse views is an aberration from Islamic traditions, noted Khalid Masud, the former chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology.
“Respecting diversity has been our historic strength,” he said, adding that there was a need to revive this tradition.
Teachers can also help reverse the trend of extreme intolerance towards dissent, Masud said, suggesting that teachers should allow their students to decide on their own what is correct.
Religious scholar Amanat Rasool called for teachers to be ‘subject specialists’.
“A teacher of philosophy should be a philosopher too,” he said, adding that only subject specialist teachers can bring their professional experience to the classroom.
The dialogue also discussed the space for non-Muslims in Pakistan.
Centre for Social Justice Executive Director Peter Jacob reflected on global precedents for fostering dialogues among people of different faith.
Romana Bashir, while presenting a case of non-Muslims in Pakistan, asked why are minorities are kept out of the political domain.
She criticised those sections of society which stigmatise people from different faiths.
Journalist Sabookh Syed pointed out that circulation of fake news on social media was damaging social harmony. He, however, pointed out that proper use of the platform can help achieve greater harmony.
PIPS’ Director Muhammad Amir Rana termed social harmony key for living in the modern globalised world, where a majority in one area is a minority in another area.
“Social cohesion has become a yardstick to determine any country’s success. By building cohesive societies, teachers can literally end up building a nation,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 25th, 2017.