Pakistan - “Textbooks That Incite Hatred Should Be Reviewed”

Many textbooks used in schools in the province of Punjab have been reviewed by National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) of the Catholic Church of Pakistan. This has been done in order to stop religious extremism and eliminate biases. Promotion of peace amongst individuals should start at school.

A chapter on United Nations in a social studies book for fifth grade students reads, “Non-Muslims have always opposed Muslims and often cooperated with each other to harm them.”

Other textbooks are full of similar references to hatred. The NCJP has called for the removal of all such text.

This step was arrived at after a major survey of the text books was conducted by the Catholic Church. The findings were then presented at a conference on 19 May. The conference was called, Uprooting Religious Intolerance through Formal Educational System in Pakistan.

Another book chapter reads, “Capitalist and democratic countries like Europe and USA have based their educational objectives on a concept of person getting attuned with society, capable of self-earning. Their teachings are favorable to capitalism and the philosophy of western democracy”.

Nevertheless, “The curriculum needs to be reviewed. The authorities should supervise private publishers and punish those that publish books that contain hatred”.

- See more at: http://www.christiansinpakistan.com/textbooks-that-incite-hatred-should-be-reviewed-says-ncjp/#sthash.21Fa5lGL.dpuf