By
– Shamim Masih
ISLAMABAD:
Christians had the largest education and health system in Pakistan at the time
of partition until the civil dictator Z A Bhutto nationalized their
institutions. Now you can see the incredulous hypocrisy of Pakistan’s school
system especially as it affects religious minorities and worse, the girls of
these minorities. This segment of our
society remains uneducated and indulged in household jobs. They are being
sexually harassed and then being forced to convert to Islam. Girls from the
minority go to public school and face discrimination. Minority students are not
only forced to study Islamic studies but forced to do manual jobs like cleaning
in the school while other students remain in the class rooms. Iffat Nasim,
headmistress of the Government Khadija Girls High School in Rawalpindi, is
reportedly involved in extra-educational activities by indulging the Christian
students in cleaning/washing classrooms, toilets, verandas/corridors for hours
and preparing burgers/buns from Muslim students for earning money for her. Despite
the intentions of the Pakistani government, the educational system has failed
to eradicate illiteracy in the post-independence era. It has also failed to
train an adequate number of professionals to meet the needs of the country in
different fields, which has been a major hindrance to the nation's economic
development. The above mentioned is one example as there is series of this type
of characters.
But still Christian’s missionary institutions has large network in
the country and they can serve better to the nations. Sajid Ishaq, chairman
Pakistan Interfaith League – PIL is eager to educate the youth of the Pakistani
Christians. Talking about the recent situation in the country and future of the
Pakistani minorities, he said education is the key to save future of the Christian’s
youth. Chairman PIL shared his plan to educate the Christian youth and said that
this is evident in the cities established by the British, such as the port city
of Karachi where majestic St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Pakistan’s largest church,
stands, and the churches in the cities of Peshawar, Lahore and Rawalpindi where
the British established a major military cantonment. European and wealthy
native Christians established colleges, churches, hospitals and schools in
cities like Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Peshawar.
He said that since Christian students are being ignored and remain
uneducated and thus they cannot enter into the main stream. He requested the church
administrations of the country, if they allow him to use their premises in the
evening to educate the Christian youth throughout the country. He further
claimed that he has collected the drop out data and has planned to teach them
in the evening classes. According to his plan, he can arrange the teaching
classes for the poor Pakistani Christian students if the church administrations
allow him to use the buildings of the schools, colleges in the evening. He said
with the limited budget we can reach to the unreached children of the Pakistani
Christians. And thus after sixteen years, we will have new educated lot of the christen
youth.
Despite the fact of the differences between us, we need to focus to
address the severe conditions of the Pakistani Christians. Since Christians are being
persecuted under severe conditions, all the prominent Christian leadership
should stand shoulder-to-shoulder with each other. Each and every person in
charge or claim to be; should take the responsibility to teach at least Christian
student for a better future generation. Educational institutions with a religious
background should take interest and focus the deserving students.
