Balochistan Assembly passes resolution making basic Arabic compulsory

Balochistan's provincial assembly passed a resolution on Friday recommending that basic Arabic be taught as a compulsory subject in government primary schools, Independent Urdu reported, with the education minister opposing the move.

Shahida Raouf, a Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam member of the assembly, moved the resolution. It argued that the purpose of education is not only to supply textbook knowledge but to develop a child's academic, moral, cultural and intellectual capacity, according to the outlet. It cited the importance of the Quran's teachings and of understanding them, and urged that basic Arabic be made part of the schooling system.

Education Minister Rahila Durrani told the house the provincial government had already settled the question through legislation. Under that law, she said, pupils in classes one to five are taught Nazira and those in classes six to 12 read the complete Quran with translation. A further resolution was therefore unnecessary, she said.

Former chief minister Dr Malik Baloch said his government had decided to introduce Pashto, Balochi, Brahui, Sindhi and Persian as compulsory courses in primary classes. That decision was never implemented, he said, and mother tongues should be added alongside an Arabic course.

Deputy Speaker Ghazala Gola chaired the session and presented the resolution for approval. The house passed it unanimously, according to the report.

The resolution recommends the change rather than ordering it, and curriculum changes are notified separately by the provincial education department. Independent Urdu did not say whether the department would act on the recommendation, when a basic Arabic course would begin, or what it would contain.

The assembly's move follows the province's earlier legislation on Quran instruction in state schools, which the education minister cited as the reason no new resolution was needed. Dr Malik Baloch's remarks pointed to a separate gap: the 2014-era decision on regional languages that his administration announced but did not carry out. Neither the minister nor the mover responded in the report to his suggestion that both subjects be taught together.

Balochistan's assembly last met on the resolution on Friday, and Independent Urdu's account was based on the proceedings of that sitting.