WHATEVER the opinion of the state on the matter, the question remains: is enough being done to turn Pakistan away from the trajectory of extremism and prejudice that has nearly proved its undoing?

Formulating an answer to that question would have to begin by delving into how the younger generation of Pakistanis is being raised, and the ideas that are being imparted to impressionable young minds, especially in the classroom.

Sadly enough, the news here is depressing. Wednesday saw a seminar organised jointly in Karachi by the National Commission for Justice and Peace, and the Pakistan Institute of Labour and Research, concerning a survey of the curricula in all four provinces.

The NCJP analysed some 70 textbooks, including those of the compulsory Urdu and Islamiat, as well as of optional subjects. It found that on the whole, despite efforts by Punjab and Sindh to improve the quality of information, there were still too many examples of content that could be considered divisive and of portions amounting to hate speech.

Consider, for example, that Hindus are portrayed as ‘enemies’, while Christians are portrayed as ‘agents’ of the West. The narrative on Partition seems to entirely overlook the fact that atrocities were committed by all parties during the crisis, and that there was no community whose hands were entirely clean, or that did not suffer.

What is equally depressing is that the report carried only 25pc of the NCJP’s findings, for, as the project coordinator pointed out, “sharing the remaining portion may just anger some people so much that they may want to eliminate us”.

The adage that those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it has become clichéd for good reason.

Pakistan has reason enough to rue the course it has chosen to take, and, unless there is course correction, the country will soon run out of time to choose a different future.

Curricula reform has to be undertaken on an urgent basis. Consider that following the National Action Plan, two provinces took the initiative of adding to textbooks a few lines about heroes of faiths other than Islam (Punjab) and Jinnah’s speech promoting the rights of minorities (Sindh).

Even so, according to the NCJP, the problematic portions were not removed. If the country’s leadership is at all serious about turning the currently bleak national situation around, it must start by cleaning up textbooks. Bad education simply defeats the purpose.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2016