Revision in curriculum need of the hour, experts

Karachi
The media on Thursday reported the Punjab government’s decision to reform the syllabus of schools, colleges as well as religious seminaries.
A number of analysts strongly believe distortion of history during and post-military dictator Zia-ul-Haq’s tenure produced hate mongers across the country.
Former president Pakistan Medical Association and a leading educationist Prof Dr Tipu Sultan while speaking to The News said, “It was indeed high time the curriculum, right from our schools up to the higher education, was revised.”
Science and technology were evolving at a rapid pace whereas we still had a long way to go, he added.
Speaking of medical and dental colleges, Dr Sultan said technical and scientific advancements had not been inculcated in the curriculum resulting in a drop in the number of graduates managing to achieve good results in examinations conducted by USA and UK.
Quoting medical specialists practicing in America, he said “Last year only 27 Pakistani medical students were able to clear the examinations conducted by USA, whereas the number of Indian students went in to hundreds.” A study compiled by AH Nayyar and Ahmed Salim in 2002 reported that one generation after the other in Pakistan goes through a curriculum based on inaccurate facts and misrepresented history.
Instead of developing a sense of harmony among the existing religious communities, insensitivity was bred; narratives inciting militancy and violence, including encouragement of Jihad and Shahadat were promoted by the national curriculum.
Outdated and incoherent pedagogical practices which resulted in hindering the development of critical thanking among students were also included in the syllabus.
Another study titled ‘The Subtle Subversion: the state of curricula and textbooks in Pakistan’ reported that the concept of Pakistani nationalism was defined in a way that non-Muslim nationals inevitably got excluded from the definition of a true patriot. Pakistan Paediatric Association President Prof Dr Iqbal A Memon while speaking to The News suggested to focus on healthy intra-personal as well as intra-community behaviour.