Pakistan bans two textbooks has prohibited the printing, publishing, distribution, and instruction of two Cambridge textbooks, Sociology and The History and Culture of Pakistan, due to their LGBTQ content and inaccurate representation of Pakistan’s map. The books were being taught at O-levels in educational institutions in the federal capital.
The Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) has issued a notification to the heads of all private educational institutions in the national capital, directing them to ensure that the banned textbooks are not available in any institution. Violators of Section Four A of the PEIRA Act may face legal consequences.
The regulatory authority has also requested a comprehensive list of O&A level books and reference materials for the National Curriculum Council in Islamabad to effectively monitor and evaluate them.
The Federal Secretary of Education and Vocational Training, Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry, has stated that the books did not have a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Curriculum Wing and their content includes material against the socio-cultural values of Pakistan. He also noted that the Sociology book includes content on same-sex marriage that goes against Pakistan’s social and cultural values, and the second book wrongly describes Pakistan’s political history and includes a misprinted map of Pakistan.
Educational institutions have been directed to submit an implementation report by May 10, and PEIRA will take legal action against violators. The National Curriculum Council reviews all textbooks, while PEIRA implements them.
The ban on these textbooks has sparked controversy in Pakistan, with some arguing that it violates academic freedom and promotes intolerance towards the LGBTQ community. Others support the ban, stating that the content goes against Pakistan’s cultural and religious values.
In conclusion, the ban on Cambridge textbooks over their inclusion of LGBTQ content and misprinted map is a controversial issue in Pakistan. The Federal Education Ministry and PEIRA have taken action to ensure that these books are not available in educational institutions in the national capital.
