Ulema Board's approval not required for Science textbooks, Education Ministry

The Education Ministry clarified on Tuesday that the Science textbooks content did not require approval from Ulema Board.

Ministry said this while replying to doubts and assumption that the Ulema Board had dispensed a verdict in which it had asked for all human figures in Biology textbooks of the Single National Curriculum (SNC) to be covered with clothes.

According to reports, the education ministry stated "vested interests" have started a campaign to “discredit the government's efforts” to develop the SNC for schools across the country.

According to statement, the ministry has so far approved SNC for up to grade V. They said that Biology is a subject taught in Grade IX and no textbooks for Biology have so far been approved by SNC committee.

“The federal government’s approval process for Science textbooks does not involve any talk with the Muttahida Ulema Board and so any statement that the Board has forbidden the enclosure of any figures/diagrams or educational material from the Biology textbooks is sheer misinformation” it said.

The ministry restated that Science textbooks are being designed and their content will be approved in consultation with appropriate and renowned local and international experts.

The education ministry clarified that the Punjab Assembly had approved a law according to which Ulema Board approved all Islamiat textbooks curriculum only.