Sindh to introduce Hindu religious textbooks for classes III to V in government schools

KARACHI: The Sindh Education and Literacy Department is set to introduce religious textbooks for Hindu students in classes III to V in government schools across the province, according to an official letter issued by the department.

In a letter dated April 29 and addressed to the chairman of the Sindh Textbook Board (STBB), the department asked for the distribution of three religious books for grades III to V for the academic year 2026-27. The letter referred to a decision taken at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Sindh Curriculum Council on April 20.

Chief Executive Advisor Dr Fauzia Khan stated in the letter that the publication cost for the current academic year would be covered by Prem Sagar Sanstha Karachi, a social welfare organisation. The letter added that ‘The distribution of the books will be carried out through STBB,’ and also asked the board to ‘allocate/adjust budget for the publication of the religious books for the next academic year’.

Decision follows curriculum council meeting

The move stems from deliberations of the Executive Committee of the Sindh Curriculum Council, which decided to proceed with the books for Hindu students studying in the specified grades. The department’s communication to the textbook board formally sought implementation of that decision for the coming academic session.

The development marks a provincial step similar to one taken at the federal level in 2023. At that time, the National Curriculum Council (NCC) issued no-objection certificates for the publication of religious books for students from seven minority communities enrolled in federally supervised educational institutions.

Those no-objection certificates covered books on Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity, Baha’i, Zoroastrianism, Kalasha and Buddhism.

Context of minority religious education

The issue of curriculum content and inclusion has also been highlighted in research by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ). According to a study by the organisation, there appeared to be a direct link between exclusionary narratives in textbooks and increasing social intolerance toward religious and sectarian minorities in the country.

The study further noted that the proportion of religiously inclusive content remained low across textbook boards.

The Sindh government’s latest move concerns Hindu students in government schools and specifically covers classes III, IV and V. For the current academic year, the printing cost is to be borne by the named welfare organisation, while the Sindh Textbook Board has been asked to handle distribution and make budgetary arrangements for publication in the following academic year.