Indoctrination and Islamization in Higher Secondary Curriculum in Pakistan: A Case Study of Sindh Textbook Board of Pakistan

Abstract

Language is a social phenomenon. It helps us to interact with the world around us. The prevailing content explores and emphasizes the idea of language as a significantly active agent which indoctrinates learners and excludes people from minorities through English Language textbook of Class 9 published by Sindh Textbook Board of Sindh, Pakistan. The study used Fair Clough’s model of CDA 1995 (Critical Discourse Analysis) as a tool to reveal the hidden ideologies behind the language used in the textbook. English, in Pakistan, is used as a language-learning subject in the context of L2. However, the language used in textbooks imposes certain ideological connotations in not only an implicit but also explicit manner. Rahman (2002).The language textbooks indoctrinate learners by propagating hidden agendas such as excessive promotion of Islamization and glorification of war and war heroes to name just a few. The study recommends language textbooks to focus on developing language skills and enlarging the lingual capabilities of the learners instead of selling indoctrination and constricting the critical abilities of the learners. In order to meet the needs of a modern world, balance curriculum contents should be designed for the learners. It is highly suggested to the designers and policy makers, to focus on language learning items and content, instead of content-oriented textbooks. The research will be beneficial in the domain of education and for fellow researchers as they would be able to discern in clear terms why indoctrination should be discouraged in the process of education; language should only be taught without distortion.