With the news of Pakistan getting a single national curriculum, the citizens were already divided. There were some who endorsed it because such a step would lessen the disparity emerging through the level of education amongst people. But there were others who found that a single curriculum might hurt the sentiments of the religious minorities in the country. Amongst criticism, the curriculum was introduced in Punjab.
Single National Curriculum in Punjab
It turns out that it was not just the religious minorities who needed their voice in the curriculum. It has been some time since the curriculum’s introduction, but all of a sudden there was a flurry of tweets on Twitter regarding the books.
Read More: Punjab Implements Single National Curriculum Across Schools
People were utterly horrified at not just what was written but also the visuals of the books. They are not completely wrong. It seems that the curriculum developers are manipulating the subconscious; teaching the children what is the right way to be.
Twitter reacts
Let’s look at some of the tweets and what people felt about the curriculum.
This one netizen observed how the book cover showed that the women sat at the feet of the men. The man and the boy are sitting on the sofa, while the woman and the girl are sitting on the carpet on the floor.
Women & girls sitting at the feet of the male members of the family. This is what the single national curriculum aims to promote #nayapakistan pic.twitter.com/iErqXs7glb
— Sharmila Sahibah faruqui S.I (@sharmilafaruqi) September 8, 2021
A Pakistani man also took to Twitter an image allegedly from the curriculum. According to this tweet, the curriculum was telling how a housewife should spend her time. Interestingly, the curriculum mentions all the household chores that househelp can do. But mentioning it in the book could potentially teach the future youth that there is a set way of life that a housewife needs to have. Deviation from that would tell the youth that a woman is not a good housewife. Deviation could involve something as a basic as a woman assigning a ‘me-time’ for herself.
Single National curriculum for primary level, which teaches how a housewife spend her time accordingly 😁 pic.twitter.com/QiKzlHaRGr
— Saqib Ali (@saqib12225915) September 8, 2021
People brought in political beliefs as well
Some thought that they could manipulate the issue for political motives. Hence, they started sharing how a Sindhi curriculum book has gender equality whereas Federal government led by PTI broadcasts gender discrimination.
The difference between #Pti owned Single National Curriculum and Sindh own curriculum we believe in woman equality, the front page of both books are self explanatory. @sardarshah1 @Shafqat_Mahmood pic.twitter.com/NvchMMQncQ
— Engr. Masroor Leghari (@FalakBaloch15) September 9, 2021
More opinions on gender discriminatory curriculum
There was much more that people felt that they needed to add on the matter. Take a look at the following tweets:
Some images from the new Single National Curriculum textbooks. Little girls in hijabs (even at home!), fathers & sons on sofas while mom & daughter sit on the floor, & women talked about as great ‘supporters’ of men. Gender socialisation in our schools is abt to get so much worse pic.twitter.com/B35n7aEs6O
— Arhum Tariq Butt (@Arhumtb) September 8, 2021
Under Imran Khan and Shafqat Mehmood, the Single National Curriculum means, boys on sofas and girls on the floor. pic.twitter.com/6NpkrkIGUD
— Ahmad (@Ahmad04160629) September 8, 2021
As you know, for any issue while there are people who are against it, there are some who try to show that the situation is not as bad as it is shown to be.
This is Single National Curriculum Grade 5 English textbook. Look! How women have been shown in strong roles. Our women, Our pride. #SNC @Shafqat_Mahmood @iKarachiwala @MariamChughtai pic.twitter.com/tXAs1pSWJB
— Suhail Aziz (@SuhailBinAziz) September 8, 2021
Which side do you pick? Pro-curriculum or against curriculum?
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