Government is speedily working to prepare a comprehensive national curriculum with the help of provinces, said Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Engineer Muhammad Baligh ur Rehman.
He was addressing a two-day international conference on “Role of Islamic Universities in Teaching of Arabic to Non-Native speakers” which concluded at Faisal Masjid Campus of the International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI).
The conference was organized by the Faculty of Arabic of the university where national and international scholars, experts of Arabic language and varsity’s veteran faculty members presented around 50 papers to explore ways of promotion of Arabic language.
“Inclusion of teaching of Quran with Nazra and translation in the curriculum at different level of school education is the prime focus of the ministry and soon a bill of compulsory Quran education at schools will be passed from the house parliament” he said . He added that curriculum will be designed in line with the contemporary needs by focusing on character building, civic sense and national unity.
The minister maintained that Islam was complete code of life and government was focused on providing contemporary education to youth integrated with teachings of Islam. Talking about the improvements in the higher education, the minister furthered that government, in terms of grants to universities through Higher Education Commission, has increased the funding from 41 billion to 91 billion. He shed light on the importance of technical education and told that government was also mulling to offer short courses of spoken Arabic to technical education people so they could perform better being in Arab countries. The Minister also hailed the IIUI and its services, and said that it has always shown presence of foreign students at its campuses which was a distinction, while he also termed IIUI as the most vital institution which can play pivotal role in promotion of education.
Dr. Masoom Yasinzai opined in his speech that it was necessary to learn Arabic for having accurate comprehension of Quran. He said that IIUI was always ready to work with government for promotion of Arabic language, while he suggested that students of Madaris be utilized for managing Arabic faculty deficit. He also told that IIUI was also mulling over launching virtual Arabic learning programs as well.
Dr. Ahmed Yousif Al-Draiweesh, IIUI President said in his speech that Arabic is language of Holy Prophet (PBUH) and Holy Quran and every Muslim should learn it to get guidance from the life of Holy Prophet (PBUH) and Holy book. He also apprised the participants regarding IIUI’s steps for promotion of Arabic language and hailed the faculty of Arabic for arranging an international conference on the topic. He called upon the Muslim societies to teach Arabic to Youth and termed it as a pre-requisite for comprehension of teachings of Islam.
Earlier, Dr. Muhammad Bashir briefed the participants about aims and objectives and papers presented in the conference.
The two day moot was also attended by scholars of 14 Mulsim countries including experts from Al-Azhar University of Egypt, Kingdom if Saudi Arabia, Uganda, Malaysia, Indonesia, Oman and others.