Secularization of Education and its Hazardous Implications for Pakistan

Abstract

Pakistan is the first country that came into existence on the basis of Muslim nationhood. Hindus were anxious to marginalize the Muslims & condemn them to a permanent minority. This apprehension compelled the Muslim to carve out a separate geographical entity for themselves and for their coming generations. After partition the most important task for the founder was the preservation and promotion of Muslim ideology in the newly born state and it was possible through education only. Since its establishment Pakistan has been struggling hard to achieve this objective through different educational policies. After 9/11, Washington in particular & the West in general have been pressing Pakistan to modernize its education system on secular lines in order to curb Islamic extremism. It has also been recommended to limit Quranic references from the courses of study so as to appease the non Muslim minorities in Pakistan. This article tends to examine the aftermaths of secularization of education in Pakistan.