Schoolchildren's education in civics must begin at an elementary level to instill in them a sense of good citizenship, while the curriculum and textbooks must sow seeds of tolerance, gender equality and human rights, speakers at a seminar 'Civic Education in Schools', organised by Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), said.
The seminar was attended by experienced educationists, senior teachers, curriculum experts and rights observers, a press statement issued by HRCP said, on Tuesday. The seminar took note of the fact that civic education at schools starts in ninth class and called for review of curriculum to carefully introduce civics at the primary level. The participants also recommended that it must be made a compulsory subject because of its significance for good citizenship, regardless of the profession one chooses.
While the participants generally criticised overloading of textbooks with essays on religion and moral preaching, one teacher argued that since Pakistan was created in the name of Islam and even the curriculum provided for religious instruction is outside religious courses, teachers could not be blamed for the prevalent focus of education.
However, a participant belonging to the executive branch of the government argued that the main issue is not curriculum, but divisions, fissures and weak connection between what is taught in schools and social reality. He opined that not much could be achieved by curriculum reform because only very poor people sent their children to public schools and they do not merit more than what they are getting.
Putting forth suggestions, the seminar recommended critical evaluation of 2006-year social studies/Pakistan studies curriculum with regard to citizenship education. It demanded that the government ensure primary curriculum and textbooks sow seeds of citizenship education, containing religious and political tolerance, gender equality, human rights, basic principles of citizenship and care for the environment.
The government was asked to remove the time gap between policy formulation and implementation. The need for organising periodic refresher courses for teachers on social studies and to improve the examination system to discourage learning by rote was stressed.
The participants strongly urged the government to revise National Textbooks and Learning Material Policy 2007 in view of the 18th constitutional amendment. The participants recommended recourse to courts of law to challenge violations of religious rights in learning material. At the conclusion of the seminar, it was decided that an expert group would be formed not only to carry out a detailed critique of civic education in schools, but also prepare alternative/model learning material.