Punjab decides against madrassas administration shake-up, change in syllabus
Govt is reviewing the syllabus of these educational institutions in an effort to modernise it: sources
Students read the holy book at a Madrassa. PHOTO: REUTERS
LAHORE:
The Punjab government has decided not to change the syllabus and administrative set-up of the madrassahs recently taken over by the provincial education department.
In March, the provincial government had taken over the control of dozens of madrassahs/schools run by proscribed militant groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad in 36 districts of Punjab.
Subsequently, the provincial education department had appointed its administrators at these educational institutions and introduced secular subjects along with religious education.
“There will be no change in syllabus and administrative system of these taken over madrassahs/schools for the time being and till further orders,” according to an internal memo of the Punjab Education Department.
It further says that the instructions should be followed in letter and spirit.
Sources say that the government is currently reviewing the syllabus of these educational institutions in an effort to modernise it.
The development comes two days after military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor said seminaries in the country were working under the Ministry of Industries, and that the government would place them under the Ministry of Education.
Giving a background of seminaries in Pakistan, he said at the time of Partition, Pakistan only had 247 madrassas. That number went up close to 3,000 in 1980, which had now swelled to 30,000.
However, he added that out of the 30,000, only 100 or so seminaries were involved in promoting militancy.
The Punjab government has decided not to change the syllabus and administrative set-up of the madrassahs recently taken over by the provincial education department.
In March, the provincial government had taken over the control of dozens of madrassahs/schools run by proscribed militant groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad in 36 districts of Punjab.
Subsequently, the provincial education department had appointed its administrators at these educational institutions and introduced secular subjects along with religious education.
“There will be no change in syllabus and administrative system of these taken over madrassahs/schools for the time being and till further orders,” according to an internal memo of the Punjab Education Department.
It further says that the instructions should be followed in letter and spirit.
Sources say that the government is currently reviewing the syllabus of these educational institutions in an effort to modernise it.
The development comes two days after military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor said seminaries in the country were working under the Ministry of Industries, and that the government would place them under the Ministry of Education.
Giving a background of seminaries in Pakistan, he said at the time of Partition, Pakistan only had 247 madrassas. That number went up close to 3,000 in 1980, which had now swelled to 30,000.
However, he added that out of the 30,000, only 100 or so seminaries were involved in promoting militancy.