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Polarisation of social studies textbooks in Pakistan
Author(s) -
Zaidi Syed Manzar Abbas
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the curriculum journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.843
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1469-3704
pISSN - 0958-5176
DOI - 10.1080/09585176.2011.550770
Subject(s) - curriculum , historiography , transformative learning , context (archaeology) , sociology , ideology , intellect , social science , epistemology , political science , public relations , pedagogy , law , history , politics , philosophy , archaeology
This article looks at the evolution of the social studies curricula in Pakistan, which are of critical importance in shaping the outlook of many young Pakistanis, who are affected by this polarised discourse. The author argues that this trend of polarisation springing from dynamics of education also effectively contributes to a widening social divide, which the extremist project exploits by manipulating a social and opinion leadership vacuum. The author argues that education in Pakistan is linked with dissemination of specific ideologies, and historiography has been used in a specific context as a dividing force. This is all the more relevant in social studies curricula, which have tended to shape the worldviews of generations. The author argues that social studies curricula in Pakistan need to undergo an urgent transformative process of making them more objective so that they can stimulate intellect as well as counter radicalisation tendencies.