Federal Education Minister Zobaida Jalal on Monday dispelled the impression that the initiative of changing curricula and introducing Madressah reforms was taken on US pressure after 9/11 incident, saying in fact, the reform programme was launched in 1999, when the present government took over.
"The government felt some three-four years back well-before September 11, 2001 incident, that it should alter our curricula at school, university, and Madressah-level in accordance with modern day needs and requirements. The programme took one and half years to materialise which created misunderstanding that we were doing this on US and Western pressure", she added.
Talking to newsmen after inaugurating a three-day seminar on 'changes in curricula: needs and prospects', organised by Faculty of Islamic Leaning, University of Karachi here, she said the step to reform educational system was taken to impart religious and modern education to students simultaneously.
"We have introduced reforms in three areas, including curricula, examination system and teachers' training. As far as Madressah reforms are concerned, we have tried to create balance in religious and modern education being imparted at these institutions", the minister informed, making it clear that Pakistan was not receiving money from US in this regard.
Zobaida informed that Madressah reforms' programme was being implemented through provincial governments, and expressed the hope that the process will continue.
She maintained that incentives were being offered to Madaris for getting registered with the Education Department, and clarified that religious institutions established after 1994 only, were facing some difficulties in registration.
"Madaris established before 1994 are all registered with the department concerned, but those established after that period were not registered because there was a ban on their registration", she explained, and said that now these Madaris were being encouraged to get registered.
To a query, Zobaida said foreign students intending to get religious education at Pakistani Madaris and educational institutions will have to show 'No Objection Certificate' (NOC) obtained from their respective governments, adding: "If their governments have no objection, we will allow them to study here."
However, she said Afghan students, living and studying in Balochistan and NWFP had no need to obtain such NOC from their government and educational institutions were directed to grant them admissions without it.
"Afghanistan is our neighbouring country and Afghans living in two bordering provinces are being facilitated to study there", said Zobaida.
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