Faisalabad: Professor Anjum James Paul, Chairman Pakistan Minorities Teachers Association PMTA writes an open letter to Director Curriculum Government of Punjab regarding TEACHING OF QURAN MAJEED AS COMPULSORY SEPARATE SUBJECT AND THE STUDENTS OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES

Ref.No.PMTA/13-15/21-KPR                                                        Dated: August 3, 2021                                              

Mr. Aamir Riaz

Director Curriculum

Punjab Curriculum And Textbook Board

Lahore

Subject:        TEACHING OF QURAN MAJEED AS COMPULSORY SEPARATE SUBJECT AND THE STUDENTS OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES

Your Excellency,

Greetings and peace from Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association (PMTA).

PMTA would like to draw your kind attention on the subject cited above.

Sir, Punjab Curriculum And Textbook Board (PCTB) has announced an advertisement in the Daily Jang on August 1, 2021 “Teaching of Quran Majeed as compulsory separate subject” under the Compulsory teaching of Quran Majeed Act 2018 as (ACT XIV of 2021) on May 31, 2021 binding that there would be teaching of the Quran Majeed for Muslim students from grades I-XII in all the educational institutions of Punjab. In the light of the said amendment PCTB has included “Nazra Quran” in the Scheme of Studies as a separate compulsory subject in her 83rd meeting held on June 23, 2021. According to the schedule the new subject has 50 marks. Three periods have been allocated for grades I-III and four for grades IV-V. It is further directed to implement the teaching of Quran Majeed with true letter and spirit.

Sir, article 20 and article 25 of the constitution of Pakistan 1973 guarantee religious freedom and equal citizenship to all citizens. So, it is requested you to kindly introduce immediately compulsory subject of teaching of “Holy Bible”, “Holy Geeta”, Holy Guru Garanth Sahib Ji” and “Holy Kitab Aqdas” for religious minorities students according to their religion and also make necessary arrangements for Christian, Hindu, Sikh and Bahai teachers for the teaching of the proposed compulsory subject to avoid violation of the constitution of Pakistan 1973.

With best regards.

PROF. ANJUM JAMES PAUL

CHAIRMAN

Copy to;

1. Dr. Murad Raas, Minister for School Education Department, Punjab

ii.            Dr. Farooq Manzoor,  MD, Punjab Curriculum And Textbook Board, Lahore

PMTA is making efforts since 2004 for education reforms through advocacy, lobbying and analyses on the textbooks of Pakistan to promote diversity and peaceful coexistence through the Pakistani education system. Pakistani religious minorities are not enjoying fully constitutionally their civil and political rights and they are facing challenges of equal citizenship, equal rights and equal opportunities. Due to religious persecution lives, beliefs, families and properties of religious minorities are always at risk. Pakistani public sector education system promotes violence, intolerance, hatred and extremism through the language and images of the textbooks against non-Islamic religions, non-Muslims and non-Islamic Civilizations. Thus, Pakistani religious minorities become the direct target of the intolerance and extremism that Pakistani education system promotes.