I WOULD like to know whether there is any rule approved by the education minister or some other senior government official laying down that it is compulsory for Hindu children to learn Islamiat for their O/A level.

I have completed my studies through the matriculation system of the Sindh Board and from Class I to Class VIII, I had studied moral science as a subject and even for the board examinations (Classes IX and X). For my intermediate examinations, I studied ethics as a subject. But why is no similar subject provided for the children of Hindus for their O/A levels?

My child who studies in St. Michael’s Convent School is being forced to study either Christianity or Islamiat. He is not the least bit interested in studying either subject but since he has to, as he has no other option. It badly affects his final exam results.

Why is there no alternative subject for Hindu children in place of Islamiat? Is it because we are a minority? But aren’t we a part of this country? Besides, we have been living here before partition.

I believe, according to the 14 points of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, we too have equal rights. I also strongly believe that we are sending our children to school to learn subjects like moral science, ethics and humanities but definitely not religion.

I request the education department to kindly restructure its education curriculum for O and A Level Cambridge Studies by introducing ethics for Hindu children.

Parmesh Marker

Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 11th , 2014