PHOTO: PAKISTANTODAY
PESHAWAR: Representatives of various religions and educationists stressed on the need to remove hate material from the curriculum and suggested education reforms to help counter extremism and promote peaceful co-existence.
A roundtable discussion on ‘Education reforms for a pluralistic society’ was organised by Rights of Expression, Assembly, Association and Thought (REAT) Network in collaboration with the Peace Education and Development (PEAD) Foundation at a local hotel in the city on Friday.
At the occasion, Islamic Research Center Director Allama Fakhrul Hassan Kararvi said, “The government has lost its writ in the country and there is fear in the minds of children since the Army Public School carnage in Peshawar.”
In such an environment, Kararvi said, “The government should make sure new syllabus includes chapters on peace and harmony.”
“Without educating our younger generation about peace and tolerance, we cannot build a pluralistic society,” said Higher Education Commission (HEC) Regional Director, Zaheer Ahmad Awan.
“We created a separate country, but couldn’t educate and train the nation,” added Orthodox Church Bishop Ernest Jacob. “We can have lasting peace in the region; if parents would teach their children about tolerance,” he maintained.
Pakistan Sikh Council Chairman Radesh Singh Toni added, “Minority representatives must be consulted before the inclusion of material relating their religions.”
Directorate of Education Deputy Director Sher Daraz had earlier said the present government is committed to bring reforms in the education sector.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2015.
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