PESHAWAR: The gradual implementation of the new curricula in the government schools of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province will be completed within a few months, however, the new textbooks of Islamiat (Islamic education) for various classes are yet to be introduced owing to reservations of religio-political parties over the changes regarding some verses on jihad.
Sources said that provincial government was in a fix over taking a decision about teaching of the new textbook of Islamiat, having some changes regarding jihad (holy war), to the students of state-run schools.
Officials said that gradual implementation of the new curricula commenced in the academic year 2011-12 so the entire curricula would change at the start of the coming academic year.
Although the new textbooks of Islamiat for four classes from grade-9 to grade-12 had more topics on Islam as compared to the old ones, which were currently taught in the schools, yet the government was reluctant to take a bold step to introduce the new books in educational institutions, officials said.
The new textbooks of Islamiat were compiled three years ago but the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led provincial government, like its predecessor, has failed to sustain the pressure of the religious parties, particularly Jamaat-i-Islami, which were strongly opposing teaching of the new books in schools.
The authorities in elementary and secondary education department and its subordinate bodies like Directorate of Curricula and Teachers Education, Abbottabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Textbook Board, Peshawar have repeatedly clarified that verses about jihad were not excluded from the new textbooks of Islamiat.
INTERNEWS
