Moral Education in Pakistan

This article gives an account of moral education by formal and informal methods in Pakistan. A brief historical picture is given and the philosophical and ideological bases of moral education which are congenial to the Islamic concept of education and emanate from the Quran, Hadees and Sunnat are detailed. Tributes are paid to the Muslim philosophers, writers and educationists who influenced the trends of moral education in the Indo‐Pakistan sub‐continent and contributed to shaping the present education in Pakistan. A brief description of the aims and goals of education, constitutional requirements, educational policies, courses of studies prescribed for moral education and for teacher training, extra‐curricular activities, the percentage of time allocated for moral education as well as the means and strategies for informal moral education are given to indicate a comprehensive picture of moral education in Pakistan. The article also describes various efforts by the Government in the light of various proposals to improve the standard of moral education in co‐operation with parents, teachers and the community. It hints at the need for surveys to assess and analyse the effect of moral education by schools. Unfortunately this dream has so far not materialized due to financial constraints. It appears, that while appreciating the need for individual freedom and independence to believe in and to profess and adhere to the principles of ethical conduct of one's own liking, the need for imparting the knowledge of universally accepted moral values and virtues is not overlooked in Pakistan. Conscious efforts are made to enable the children to differentiate between evil and virtue and to lead them on the right path through education, exploration, experimentation, and knowledge and appreciation of universally accepted values.