LAHORE: Probe report doesn't fix responsibility - Objectionable material in textbooks
By Our Reporter
LAHORE, April 21: The inquiry committee, constituted by Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi to probe the inclusion of objectionable material in textbooks
, has submitted its report but without fixing any responsibility.
This was stated by Punjab Minister for Education Mian Imran Masood on Wednesday while talking to newsmen after the first convocation of the Government College for Women, Gulberg. Headed by Punjab Education Secretary Shahid Rasheed, the committee was assigned the task to probe five areas.
The committee had identified the material which needed to be deleted from the textbooks, selected its replacement and issued corrigenda in this regard. It had informed all the eight Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education about the deletion and exclusion of text material so that no mess be created in the examinations.
"The committee is in the process of coordinating with the ministry of education to fix the responsibility," the minister said. It would soon give its recommendations while identifying officials who were involved in inclusion and deletion of certain text materials.
"Those found responsible, whether in the Punjab department or in the federal ministry, will be brought to the book," the minister said. In his convocation speech, the minister urged the opposition legislators to stop confusing students and their parents.
He said the opposition was creating a controversy that the government had deleted Quranic verses concerning Jihad. He said the critics had fanned the controversy to such an extent that it was being conveyed to masses that Islam had been taken out of the textbooks.
"The matter is being politicized to gain political mileage," he said. Imran Masood highlighted the importance of girls education and enumerated the steps taken by the government in this regard, specially distribution of free textbooks among the students of state-run schools up to Class V.
Responding to the college principal's demands, the minister allowed purchase of a coaster from the institution's funds. He also announced that the government would extend financial help for the construction of additional classrooms on the campus. He also promised to consider the feasibility report for the construction of an auditorium in the college.
The minister said his department was in the process of printing additional 20 per cent (some two million) textbooks which would be supplied in the districts from where complaints of shortage had been received.
He assured that the process of the distribution of free textbooks would be completed by April 30. Earlier, principal Prof Zahida Rafiq presented college's annual report. The minister also distributed medals and merit certificates among the students who excelled in curricular and co-curricular activities.
