Curriculum changes termed attack on Pakistan ideology
KARACHI, April 22: Speakers at a conference on Thursday alleged that the US has launched attacked on the country's ideology by bringing changes to curricula through federal education ministry.
They warned the government to refrain from implementing 'US agenda' by changing curricula, establishment of the Aga Khan Educational Board, denationalization of educational institutions and demanded removal of Federal Education Minister Zobaida Jalal.
The conference on "Protecting Ideology of Pakistan," organized by the Muttahida Talaba Mahaz (MTM), consisting of 14 student bodies, was also attended by representatives of the teachers' bodies.
Delivering the key-note speech at the conference, central president of the Imamia Students Organization (ISO), Nasir Abbas Sherazi, said changes to curricula were aimed at shaking ideological basis of the country.
He accused the federal education minister of implementing the US agenda in the country. He said the MTM was creating awareness among the people, claiming that people were supporting the students in their fight against US and its followers in the country.
Earlier, Zubair Ahmed Gondal, Nazim-i-Aala of Islami Jamiat-i-Talba said education system was deliberately being destroyed by bringing changes to textbooks on US behest.
He opined that all segments of the society, including newsmen, lawyers, teachers and parents were united to initiate struggle against changes in curricula. "We have decided to form a joint action committee, comprising all these segments of the society to adopt the way of agitation to compel the government for rectifying textbooks," he added.
"Students will besiege Punjab Assembly, Sindh House and NWFP Governor's House as part of their protest campaign against US agenda being implemented in Pakistan," he said. Another MTM leader Dr Kashif Saeed Shaikh, deploring changes in curricula, warned the government to refrain from doing so, otherwise the students would be compelled to jam all activities in the country and force it to listen to the demands of aggrieved section.
Dr Arshad Mughal of the Sindh Teachers' Alliance urged the students to take to streets and compel the government to accept their demands, assuring the students of teachers' support. Irfan Baloch of the Peoples Students Federation (PSF-SB), Anis-ur-Rehman of the United Teachers Alliance, Tahir Akbar of IJT, Babar Farooq Rahimi and Mujahid Abbas of the ISO also spoke on the occasion. -PPI
