The Ministry of Education is disappointed over insufficient budgetary allocation for primary and secondary levels, said Minister for Education Javed Ashraf Qazi. Talking to newsmen after the inaugural session of a two-day national conference on "Pakistani Culture" on Thursday, he said.
"We were expecting more allocation in 2006-07 budget". The Planning Commission was asked to allocate Rs 5 billion for President Education Sector Reforms (PESR) to improve facilities in more than 35,000 schools of Punjab, Sindh, and NWFP. The ministry has been provided only Rs 1.7 billion, which is very small and the government would be asked to increase it, he added.
Qazi dismissed the impression that the education system was being given in the control of Aga Khan Board. He said no public sector educational institute would be affiliated with the Aga Khan Board rather it would only be allowed to take examinations.
The minister also hinted at denationalisation of missionary schools and colleges, following the success story of F.C. College where he said after denationalisation, quality of education had improved. "The standard of education has improved a lot after the college was given in the control of erstwhile administration," he added.
Earlier, addressing the inaugural session of the conference, the minister regretted that distorted history is being taught in schools. So much dust has clouded around our real identity that the new generation is completely ignorant about their culture and identity, he said.
Qazi negated the notion that the history and culture in subcontinent begun with the arrival of Muhammad Bin Qasim, rather it existed ages back. Culture is a part of human tradition and reflects the way of life, he added.
According to the minister, there is no difference between Hindu and Pakistani culture and all rituals are the same with a minor difference. We have simply adopted and Islamised what the Hindu do, he added. He said all the Muslim countries, except Pakistan, take pride in their pre-Islamic culture. Egypt and Iran are on the top amongst Muslim countries that are proud of their pre-Islamic culture and history.
Qazi deplored that a religious group had launched his character assassination after he announced to revise Islamic Studies curricula. Such a campaign would not weaken his resolve of expunging controversial material from Islamic Studies. Islamiat would be taught to every class, he added
The minister said he was shocked to notice during his visit to capital schools that some Quaid's saying were replaced with that of late president Ziaul Haq.
Former federal minister for culture S.K. Trussler in his keynote address said, the Quaid-e-Azam never thought of making Pakistan a theocratic state as is evident from his decision to have administered oath to the new Constituent Assembly of Pakistan from a non-Muslim law minister, Joginder Nath Mandal, a Hindu.
It is very clear from his speeches that every Pakistani was free to practice his religion and culture as long as it did not infringe upon the privacy of others. The Quaid's three golden principles, Unity, Faith, and Discipline, should have been the cornerstone of our national character and culture.
Dr Mansoor Akbar Kundi presenting his paper said that growing societal vanities, absence of independent judicial system, and lack of true representation of masses in the system was heading the country towards disintegration. Only way to fight these menaces is literacy, true representation of people and an effective judicial system, he added.
Dr Riaz Ahmed head of NIHCRC opened the conference while Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs will be the chief guest of concluding session on Friday.