THE problem of xenophobia and intolerance are deep-rooted in our society. An important study conducted some years ago found that negative beliefs about members of other religions are not only transferred through social networks but are also transmitted via textbooks used by the country’s sprawling education system. In a survey of textbooks used in Sindh and Punjab, it was found that most of the hateful content was concentrated in books used to teach Urdu and Pakistan Studies, and it was feared that this content could be filling young minds with prejudice against those belonging to the Hindu, Sikh and Christian religions. It is in this context that Sindh Minister for Education Syed Sardar Ali Shah’s recent announcement of a “comprehensive review” of textbooks to be used for the next academic year ought to be welcomed as a positive and praiseworthy step. In a meeting at the Sindh Textbook Board’s Jamshoro office last week, the minister said hateful content would be identified and removed from the textbooks, and a culture of tolerance and mutual respect would be encouraged instead.

“It is crucial to educate students about Sindh’s historical identity as a land of peace, tolerance and unity. The curriculum must teach respect for all religions,” the minister is reported to have said on the occasion. He must be commended for the initiative, and it is hoped that this new vision will be implemented with the dedication it deserves. Sindh, which has a history of peaceful cohabitation by members of different religious faiths, can become a shining light in this respect and set an example and a benchmark for other provinces to emulate. The revitalisation of tolerant thought cannot begin without nipping the roots of bigotry in the bud. Schools are the last place where negative attitudes towards any religion should be transmitted. They must, instead, be turned into nurseries where respect and acceptance are fostered, encouraged and even celebrated.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2024