Punjab Moves to Mandate Quran Education in Private Schools

Punjab Moves to Mandate Quran Education in Private Schools
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Educational authorities in Pakistan’s Punjab province are considering a proposal to make Quranic instruction compulsory in all private schools across the region. The initiative aims to ensure equal access to religious education for students in both public and private institutions.

The proposal was put forward by Syed Ihsan Mahmood, a member of the Punjab Quran Council and head of the Quran Publishers Association. Mahmood highlighted that Punjab was one of the first regions in Pakistan to mandate Quranic education in the school curriculum. Under existing regulations, students from grades 1 to 5 are required to learn Quran recitation, while those in grades 6 to 12 study the Quran along with translation to enhance comprehension.

Mahmood noted that while this policy is implemented in public schools, adherence in private schools has been inconsistent. Some private institutions reportedly do not provide regular recitation classes, and Quran translation instruction remains insufficient in certain grade levels.

The Punjab School Education Department confirmed it is reviewing the proposal and emphasized the importance of implementing uniform regulations to ensure fair and organized religious education for all students. Authorities are expected to take appropriate measures in the near future to enforce the mandate across private schools.