Pakistani Catholics: starting from school to build a new society
by Jibran Khan
Church marks ‘Education Week’ and ‘joy of Giving Week’. For Islamabad bishop, education is a universal right and a tool to prepare people. Priest describes existing educational system as nepotistic, wants educational programmes for the poor.
Islamabad (AsiaNews) – The Pakistani Catholic Church will celebrate ‘Education Week’ from 31 October to 6 November to emphasise the importance of the social, economic and human development of the Christian minority through school. At the same time, Catholics will celebrate ‘Joy of Giving Week’, organised by the human rights group, Masihi Foundation and Life for All. For the event’ activists and sponsors, giving part of one’s wealth to the less fortunate is part of the spirit of Christian charity, as well as a path to strengthen solidarity and respect among people.
AsiaNews has for some time stressed the importance of education as a way of redemption and growth for Pakistan, so much so that it has devoted a file on schooling and education to the matter (see Education can stop the Taliban in Pakistan).
In an official statement, the Diocese of Islamabad/Rawalpindi said, “Education is very important for an individual's success in life” and is “the foundation of society which brings economic wealth, social prosperity and political stability.” Hence, the “government should pay serious attention to education and support it economically and morally all over the country.”
About 25 million children (in a country of 180 million) are denied the right to an education. Some 30 per cent of the population is under extreme educational deprivation.
In rural areas, only one girl in three goes to schools and two people out of three between the ages of 6 and 16 are illiterate. About 30 per cent of school children go to private institutions, whilst 6 per cent attend Madrassah, Qur‘anic schools whose focus is essentially the Muslim holy book, but in the more remote areas the proportion is even higher.
For the bishop of the Pakistani capital, education “is one the most important factors” in preparing people for life, and “it is a right”.
“Only through education can people assimilate information from their surrounding environment,” Mgr Rufin Anthony said. Only through education can people understand the past and make sense of the information they need to comprehend and analyse the present.
The prelate is grateful to the activists of the Masihi Foundation and Life for All for organising a week dedicated to fund-raising and volunteering because “events such as these must be encouraged.”
At the end of the week, a “special meeting will be held” at the local Catholic church.
Fr Anwar Patras, a priest in the Diocese of Rawalpindi, is highly critical of Pakistan’s education system, which is ruled by “nepotism” in teaching appointments. He accuses those who run educational institutions of favouring relatives and friends at the expense of the quality of the education and respect for schools, which should be treated as pillars of society.
What is more, new programmes and curricula are needed to meet the needs of the poor who cannot pay for quality education.
“Education Week is celebrated to highlight the importance of studying” in everyone’s life, Fr Anwar concluded.
AsiaNews has for some time stressed the importance of education as a way of redemption and growth for Pakistan, so much so that it has devoted a file on schooling and education to the matter (see Education can stop the Taliban in Pakistan).
In an official statement, the Diocese of Islamabad/Rawalpindi said, “Education is very important for an individual's success in life” and is “the foundation of society which brings economic wealth, social prosperity and political stability.” Hence, the “government should pay serious attention to education and support it economically and morally all over the country.”
About 25 million children (in a country of 180 million) are denied the right to an education. Some 30 per cent of the population is under extreme educational deprivation.
In rural areas, only one girl in three goes to schools and two people out of three between the ages of 6 and 16 are illiterate. About 30 per cent of school children go to private institutions, whilst 6 per cent attend Madrassah, Qur‘anic schools whose focus is essentially the Muslim holy book, but in the more remote areas the proportion is even higher.
For the bishop of the Pakistani capital, education “is one the most important factors” in preparing people for life, and “it is a right”.
“Only through education can people assimilate information from their surrounding environment,” Mgr Rufin Anthony said. Only through education can people understand the past and make sense of the information they need to comprehend and analyse the present.
The prelate is grateful to the activists of the Masihi Foundation and Life for All for organising a week dedicated to fund-raising and volunteering because “events such as these must be encouraged.”
At the end of the week, a “special meeting will be held” at the local Catholic church.
Fr Anwar Patras, a priest in the Diocese of Rawalpindi, is highly critical of Pakistan’s education system, which is ruled by “nepotism” in teaching appointments. He accuses those who run educational institutions of favouring relatives and friends at the expense of the quality of the education and respect for schools, which should be treated as pillars of society.
What is more, new programmes and curricula are needed to meet the needs of the poor who cannot pay for quality education.
“Education Week is celebrated to highlight the importance of studying” in everyone’s life, Fr Anwar concluded.
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