Classical university

This refers to the article, ‘Classical university’ (June 28, The News on Sunday) by Tahir Kamran. The good professor in his usual erudite manner discusses the low priority that humanities and social sciences are given in most public sector universities here. This marginal status of humanities in our universities and the trend of educating students only in science subjects are very dangerous for the social development of a country. Education in all disciplines, especially the social sectors, creates a well-rounded personality and creates in students a sense of responsibility towards other people as well as the state. Offering such curriculum should be the role of a classical university.
According to the writer, without proper grounding in humanities, our students lack proper appreciation of socio-political issues and a sense of social responsibility. Students have no option but to resort to the electronic media. The extreme right-wing ideologies projected on TV have a detrimental effect on the minds of these young students. Such material usually contains only empty rhetoric designed to arouse emotions, but stilts critical thinking skills. The half-baked pan-Islamism bandied around in various programmes can also weaken the sense of patriotism of impressionable minds towards their country, according to the writer.
Akbar Jan Marwat
Islamabad