Peshawar
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi has formally launched the Character Education Curriculum for the holistic character development of children. Initially, the new Character Education Curriculum will be introduced from March 1 in primary schools of Lower Chitral and will subsequently be expanded to other districts of the province.
The curriculum will be taught to students from grades one to five and will be introduced in public and private schools as well as madaris.
The new curriculum includes special emphasis on the Seerah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), local culture, and social, psychological, and ethical dimensions. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi said that through this ethics syllabus, children will be made aware of Islamic, Pashtun, and regional traditions as well as civic responsibilities.
He said that in the digital and internet age, the protection of our values, culture, and traditions has become essential, and the government does not want future generations to drift away from their identity and values.
He further said that the Seerah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is the best model for humanity to live by, and that success in this world and the hereafter lies in following the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Muhammad Sohail Afridi announced that after ethics, the subject of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will also be introduced in schools to promote modern scientific knowledge alongside Islamic values.
He said that the message of selfhood (Khudi) of Allama Iqbal continues to guide us, and therefore the concept of Khudi will also be included in the Character Education Curriculum.
The Chief Minister said that instead of blindly following the West, Pakistan must promote national self respect, because education and character building are essential to make the nation dignified and self reliant.
He said that while the world has advanced in science and technology, our children are still seeking peace, and it is the responsibility of the government to provide religious, scientific, and moral education.
Expressing his resolve, the Chief Minister said that the children of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be given pens, education, and a path of progress instead of guns.
He said that the province has witnessed terrorism and violence over the past twenty five years, and now the time has come to lead children towards knowledge and a bright future.
The Chief Minister said that decisions taken behind closed doors always harm the nation and the country, whereas policies formulated through collective wisdom and consultation with all stakeholders are effective and result oriented. Commenting on the current economic situation, he said that due to flawed policies, the country is facing an economic crisis, declining GDP growth, and rising unemployment, and the only way forward is education, character building, and setting the right direction.
