CURRICULUM has a key role in shaping society. Pakistan’s people have learnt this fact quite well over the past few decades, as our textbooks have played a major role in the creation of our current predicament. Emphasis on aggression, glorification of militarism, singling out the ‘other’ and introducing religion into unrelated subjects are some of the features of our educational system which have contributed to the making of a violence-prone, intolerant society. Hence a call made at a recent event in Islamabad by Pakistani and Indian activists to cleanse the curricula in both countries of matter coming under the category of ‘hate-mongering’ is a highly timely one. While in Pakistan India has often been painted as the ‘villain’ in textbooks, especially after the 1965 war, Indian books have also been tinkered with by the Hindutva brigade. But it is not only India-specific material that needs to be addressed in our textbooks; excessive doses of religiosity and misrepresentation of historical facts also need the attention of educational authorities. For example, most of our textbooks are largely silent on the military’s derailing of elected governments, while there is also a tendency to demonise politicians. Elsewhere, religious teachings have been inserted in books meant to teach children general knowledge, Urdu or social studies. In effect, topics that should be taught in Islamiat are found throughout the curriculum.

Changes have been attempted, but it has been argued that not enough has been done, while it will take time before results are visible in society. The new curriculum was introduced in 2006, but has not yet been fully implemented. Some experts familiar with the changes feel the new textbooks are a positive departure from the regressive matter taught in the past though there is still material that distorts history and can be described as hate-mongering. Post-devolution, the provinces must take up the gauntlet and introduce curricula infused with a progressive spirit that emphasises learning and encourages tolerance. Misleading interpretations of history only end up confusing young minds and add to the prevailing ignorance.