Pakistan: Govt. Announces Christian Children Can Study The Bible Instead Of Islam In School

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Christians in Pakistan are cautiously celebrating a major victory for religious freedom as the Pakistani government has decided that non-Muslim children will be exempt from previously required Islamic studies in school and will be able to study the Bible instead, the International Christian Concern (ICC) aid and advocacy organization reports.

In an announcement on Jan. 23, Pakistan’s Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training said it had approved the “Curriculum for Religious Education 2023” for non-Muslim students in grades 1 to 12; the curriculum will replace the previously compulsory Islamic studies. Notably, the curriculum includes a comprehensive study of the Bible, the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, core Christian beliefs, Church history, and a study of key Christian figures.

The decision is remarkable given that a harsh Islamic regime rules Pakistan and ranks 7th on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.

In a statement seen by ICC, the Chairman of the Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association, Anjum James Paul, said: “This is a great victory for Pakistan’s religious minorities as we have been fighting for equitable education for the last two decades. After appealing to various governments, institutions, and the superior courts, the Pakistan government has finally recognized this right of minority students and exempted them from studying Islam as a compulsion.”

ICC was more guarded in its response but welcomed the announcement, saying in its report: “This decision is a small win for religious freedom in Pakistan, where Christians are routinely subjected to blasphemy laws, mob violence, and forced marriage and conversion.” However, ICC cautioned: “While the new curriculum offers some relief for Pakistan’s religious minorities, many challenges lie ahead. Since Pakistan is a Muslim-majority country, it will take time for teachers to be adequately trained on the new curriculum and for a Christian studies textbook to be approved. ICC prays that Muslim students, teachers, and administrators would come to know Christ through this.”

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