Role of curriculum in promoting religious pluralism

Abstract

Primary education is the most vital and basic sub-sector of any country. It forms the basis of education structure. Religious education is a mandatory subject in Pakistani schools in which students learn basic knowledge about Islam specifically, not including the sectarian differences between various sects of Islam and the other minorities. Division of Muslims into different sects has caused massive sectarian violence in Pakistan. This study adopts qualitative approach to discover the prospect of engaging religious education in the curriculum and practical implementation of religious education in order to alleviate existing challenges associated to religion in Pakistan. Although religious education does not endorse sectarian or religious differences, personal opinions about religious differences are nonetheless a key component of divisiveness in Pakistani society. Therefore, in order to bring about some positive change in the mindsets of the people regarding religious matters, education has a crucial role to play. Through interviews with students from three different federal administered schools, this study highlights the importance of inculcating the aspect of tolerance and coexistence in the education, that is through their curriculum, in order to prepare the future of the country for a peaceful and progressive nation. It also highlights the need for assessment and improvement of the teaching methodologies and the means of imparting religious education in schools so that different misperceptions are addressed.