|
‘Terrorism increasing because children are not taught Arabic’
 [DAWN] ISLAMABAD: Members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, while debating the Compulsory Education of Arabic Bill 2015, discussed whether the lack of Arabic as a subject in the curriculum was the cause of terrorism in Pakistain.The bill was moved by MNA Naeema Kishwar Khan, and debate on it began even though the mover of the bill was not in attendance. PML-N MNA Parveen Masood Bhatti expressed support for the bill, saying terrorism was increasing because students were not studying Arabic. "We have started focusing on the English language, and parents put their children in English-medium schools and do not bother teaching their children the Arabic language. It is because of this attitude that terrorism is increasing," she claimed. Muttahida Qaumi Movement ...English: United National Movement, generally known as MQM, is the 3rd largest political party and the largest secular political party in Pakistain with particular strength in Sindh. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pak Army's Operation Cleanup leaving thousands of urdu speaking civilians dead... (MQM) MNA Syed Ali Raza Abidi, however, argued that even people who speak Arabic can be Committee member Nafeesa Khattak from the Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... (PTI) supported the bill, saying introducing Arabic as a compulsory language from "the start of education" would allow children to learn and understand the Koran and help a large number of people get jobs. Committee chairman Rana Mohammad Hayat Khan responded that the inclusion of Arabic would not increase job opportunities, and paraphrased Allama Iqbal, saying those who study Arabic would only get jobs selling oil. "Students who are serious about studying the Koran, they go to mosques early in the morning and after that they go to school," he added. However, ars longa, vita brevis... PTI’s Asad Umer argued that the language of the Koran and its translation should be taught to students, claiming that "85pc of mosques in the federal capital are run by those who do not preach what is mentioned in the Koran". The Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) has decided to oppose the bill, Secretary Nargis Ghalo said, because there are not enough teachers to teach Arabic as a compulsory subject. Posted by: Fred 2017-02-17 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=481427 |