Punjab Government making the teaching of the Quran with translation mandatory for universities of Punjab
The Governor of Punjab, Chaudhary Muhammad Sarwar, made an important announcement about making the education of the Quran with translation mandatory for all university students. He also stated that the university will not be allowed to issue a degree if the student has not completed the reading of the Quran with translation. This course has been made mandatory along with Islamiyat as some people thought it as a substitute for the already existing mandatory courses.
Chaudhary Muhammad Sarwar recently tweeted about this notification. According to the Governor of Punjab’s tweet, “the Vice-Chancellors of all the universities of Punjab unanimously came to this decision of making the reading of Quran with translation compulsory for university students of Punjab”. The committee of Vice-Chancellors included Prof. Dr. Masood Gondal from King Edward Medical University (KEMU), Prof. Dr. Talat Naseer Pasha, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, Dr. Javaid Akram from the University of Health Sciences (UHS), Prof. Mansoor Sarwar from University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Prof. Dr. Asghar Zaidi working as a Vice-Chancellor of Government College University (GCU) and Dr. Bushra Mirza.
Questions were raised about the applicability of this decision on non-Muslim students studying at these universities. It was made clear that the non-Muslim students getting an education in these universities will be exempted from his policy, however, they will be taught Ethics as a course as a substitute for this. It is also noted that the non-Muslim students make up no more than 5% to 7% of the total students; hence the decision cannot be revoked because of such a small percentage.
The Governor of Punjab, who is also a Vice-Chancellor of the universities of Punjab, also added while addressing to media that this historic decision is made to promote the golden Islamic principles within this country, and this can only be done by understanding and implication of the Quran. He further added, only the Quran can guide us in this life and the life hereafter. The compulsory education of the Quran with translation will allow the young generation to get a better understanding of the religion and can prove a way to win God’s favor.
He also announced that this decision is under its way to making amendments in the Constitution about making the education of the Quran with translation mandatory for all university students of Punjab.
The number of credit hours granted for this course can either be one or two taken as a Theory or Practice depending on the university. It should be included in the total credit hour limit of the Higher Education Commission for the Undergraduate Program. The addition of this course does not increase the credit hour limit of the Undergraduate degree.
This course will follow the pass/fail policy for grading this course.
To get an Undergraduate degree, it will be mandatory for the student to pass the course. If the student fails this course, he will not be awarded his degree. He will need to retake the course and pass it to get his degree.
He notified that the decision came out after several discussions and meetings among its committee members since April 2020. His 7 members committee unanimously agreed on this decision keeping in view the future and education structure of the country.
Azka Noor is a member of UNCTAD Youth Action Hub, Pakistan, and a student of Economics and Political Science at the Lahore University of Management Science. She has specialized in Search Engine Optimization from The University of California, Davis. The author is an avid researcher aiming to shape the lives of millions by pursuing a career in Education and Public Policy and digitally impacting lives by developing effective content marketing strategies.