THE education system in Pakistan has been facing grave issues from the beginning but now authorities and the people in charge should open their eyes while publishing textbooks for government schools for the next academic year.

I have come across a phenomenon of great ignorance while reading Class VIII Pakistan Studies textbook, published by the Sindh Textbook Board, Jamshoro, in 2011.

One of the chapters of this book is devoted entirely to world population and provides world geographic as well as demographic knowledge to students.

At one point of this chapter, it quotes the survey of 2003 in 2011 publication while mentioning the population and literacy rate of Pakistan. According to it, the population of Pakistan is 150 million. However, the literacy rate has been highlighted showing the figures from 1972 to 1998.

During 1972, the literacy rate was 21.7 per cent which reached 45 per cent in 1998.

The chapter does not provide any current information.

I wonder looking at the responsibility and work of the textbook boards, education department and its curriculum wing in producing questionable figures, outdated information and missing the current and valid figures in our textbooks.

Such textbooks are being published and republished every year without any eye on and analysis of the validity and prescription of the Sindh government, illustrating the emblem of Sindh Textbook Board.

I urge the departments concerned to look into this matter seriously and provide updated knowledge to our younger generation with the changing facts, figures and the content of the textbooks.

SEEMA NIZAMANI Hyderabad