For the First Time in History of Pakistan NCC Allows Publishing Religious Textbooks for Students Belonging to Minorities

The National Curriculum Council (NCC) has given permission to publish religious textbooks for the students belonging to seven minority communities including Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity, Bahai, Zoroastrianism, Kalasha and Buddhism. This is the first time in the country’s history that NCC is allowing publishing these books for the students of grade one to three in educational institutions operational under the federal government.

Maryam Chaghatai, Chief of NCC told the media that this will only be applied to the schools that come under the administrative control of the federal education ministry.

She said, “If any province wants, they can publish these books through their respective boards. We have also received a request in this regard. Punjab is interested in teaching religious textbooks to the students of the minority communities in their schools.”

According to the authorities, these books will initially be available in Urdu language only. Bahai textbook will be published from grade one to fifth, while Hinduism, Kalash, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism and Sikhism will be introduced from grade 1 to 3. Moreover, for Christian community, the textbooks will be available to students from grades 1 to 4.