Not a single word of Holy Quran excluded from syllabus: minister

CCI endorses govt initiative to teach students Holy Quran

ISLAMABAD: Contrary to what media has reported on Wednesday, the Council of Islamic Ideology has endorsed government’s initiative of teaching Holy Quran in Arabic (Nazra) to Muslim students of class I to V and with simply Urdu translation to class VI to XII.

Sources in the CII told The News that the Chairman CII Maulana Muhammad Sheerani is expected to announce the CII’s endorsement to the government’s new education scheme on Thursday. These sources said that the CII recommends certain improvements in the translation to be taught.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Education Muhammad Balighur Rehman has also categorically stated that under the new scheme of studies being introduced to impart Quranic education to Muslim students from class I to XII will not exclude even a single word or verse from the Holy Book.

The minister refuted reports about the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) meeting, which as per the media was irked over the exclusion of verses about jihad in the proposed syllabus. Talking to The News, the minister lamented that the media has distorted the facts. “How can we think of excluding even a single word from Holy Quran,” he asked, explaining that the CII was clearly told that from class VI to X, the Makki Surahs will be taught with Urdu translation whereas the translation of Madni Surahs will be taught to class XI and XII.

Balighur Rehman said that it was intentionally decided that the young students from class VI to X will be taught Makki Surahs. Since Madni Surahs containing Quranic commandments as well as verses on jihad will be taught to students of class XI and XII when they get matured to understand these issues.

He said that the complete syllabus will be ready by next year. In a major development, the federal government has recently approved a scheme of studies to impart Quranic education to Muslim students from class I to XII, and in the first step this scheme is being launched soon after summer vacation in 18,000 non-formal schools of the federal government located in all different regions and provinces.

Under this scheme, the students from class I to V will be taught to read Holy Quran in Arabic (Nazra). From class VI to XII, the students will be taught translation of the Holy Quran in simple Urdu to understand its meanings.

This scheme is meant for only Muslim students. It is believed that this initiative of the government will help create a much better society in the light of Islamic teachings.

Regarding the Urdu translation of the Holy Quran to be taught under this scheme, the Education Ministry in consultation with different religious scholars and ulema bodies, Council of Islamic Ideology and other concerned is working on including the translation which is generally acceptable to all.

Education is a provincial subject but for the purpose of national cohesion and to evolve consensus national education standards, the federal and provincial governments have already opted voluntarily to set up National Curriculum Council, which has held several meetings during the last two years.