Wrong map: School told to remove social studies books

Textbooks will be removed on instructions from PCTB

LAHORE: A private school has been told to remove social studies books which allegedly show an incorrect map of Pakistan. These orders had been issued by the chief executive officer (CEO) of the district education authority (DEA) of Multan after instructions were issued by the Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB).

A letter was issued for the compliance of the orders by the Multan CEO office. The subject stated that books on social studies for classes II, IV, V, VII, and VIII, being taught at a private school, have been banned by the Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board Lahore.

The PCTB earlier directed all education CEOs of the province to ensure the ban is imposed on a book used by a chain of private schools. The book in question reportedly displayed an incorrect map of Pakistan.

PCTB Managing Director Abdul Qayyum issued a notification to ban the book, while a complaint was also filed for the registration of a criminal case against the school administration and the publisher.

In its notification, the PCTB said that the social studies books for class II, IV, V, VII, and VIII had controversial and objectionable content, especially with reference to the map of Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the school administration claims to have removed the books from its branches. Khurram Ali, the spokesperson of the school, said the matter was now months old and the controversial book had been removed back then.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2018.