KARACHI, July 26: About 20 papers were presented during different sessions of the two-day national conference on the Islamic education curricula at madressahs and universities, held at the University of Karachi on Monday.

In his paper, the dean of Islamic Studies, Peshawar University, Dr Qibla Ayaz, said that the existing curricula of madressahs was centuries old and was designed to achieve certain specific objectives.

Calling for inclusion of latest information in madressahs curricula, he suggested that information pertaining to the world organizations, including the World Bank, IMF, UNO, Saarc, Asean, European Union and Nato, as well as know how about nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and space and energy engineering should be included in the proposed courses of studies.

Dr Shamsul Basr of the Islamia University, Bahawalpur, said that the failure of the country's education system in post-independence era was due to the fact that it was not prepared in line with the social realities. He called for bringing the Dars-i-Nizami education and university education on equal status.

Qari Abdur Rashid Al-Azhari from Quetta said that educational system should be aimed at enhancing the potential and mental capabilities of students. Dr Nooruddin Jami from Multan said that there was a need to introduce such a curriculum which safeguarded our national ethos and values and be based on the basics of Islamic teachings.

Maulana Asad Thanvi from Sukkur said that curriculum should reflected the cultural, historical, ideological and social experiences and aspirations of people, otherwise the nation would meet failures. Dr Abdur Rauf Zafar of the Islamia University, Prof Dr Mahmood Ali Shah, Dean faculty of Science, among others spoke at the seminar.