If it ain’t broke...: Govt rules out possibility of changing education curriculum

Claims it will not be dictated to by foreign aid organisations.

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has ruled out the possibility of bringing changes desired by aid organisations in the current educational curriculum and warned the ministry concerned would not tolerate interference in the matter.

The decision seems to have come from Minister for Education Muhammad Atif as a rejoinder to allegations made against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) by some political parties stating the PTI had introduced changes in the curriculum at the behest of aid organisations which were giving funds to the education sector.

“We will never add or subtract things to our curriculum on the request of foreign aid organisations, since it is our duty to continue with the basic teachings of Islam,” the minister asserted, adding the PTI wanted to bring positive social changes by educating society.

Atif, while addressing a gathering comprising educators and officials of the education department, said positive suggestions would be welcome in building a healthy nation. Official sources requesting anonymity said some segments of various political parties had targeted the provincial government and alleged the latter was promoting un-Islamic aspects in the general curriculum.



An official familiar with the matter said the government was not receiving loans from aid organisations, but was instead being helped under the Paris Declaration (also known as the DAKAR agreement). “The Department For International Development provided £30 2million, but aid organisations cannot dictate the government,” he added.

“This curriculum was brought forward by the Mutahidda Majlis-e-Amal in 2006, and we are continuing to implement the same,” he said. ”The only thing the government will do is to revise texts, which is already done annually.”

The official also informed it was initially the federal government’s duty to review the text. “But after the 18th Amendment, it is now the provincial government’s prerogative to review the text and this will be carried out by the Provincial Educational Assessment Cell.”

The minister was accompanied by Provincial Minister for Zakat and Ushr, Haji Habibur Rahman, Minister for Local Government Inayatullah, Additional Secretary Education Qaiser Alam, Director Education Rafique Khattak, Chief Planning Officer Jamaluddin and prominent educators.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2013.