ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Curriculum Council (NCC) has been tasked to develop a supplementary reading material (SRM) on animal rights for schoolchildren to make them respect and care for animals.
The decision has been taken on the eve of the International Day for Anima Rights celebrated every year on December 10.
Minister for Education Rana Tanveer Hussain presided over the launch ceremony of the inclusion of reading material regarding animal rights in the curriculum.
Speaking on the occasion, he said awareness about animal rights would go a long way in preparing future animal rights champions in our society.
He said the purpose of the initiative was to inculcate moderation and tolerance in our society, adding that it was also in line with the teachings of Islam as well.
The minister informed the meeting that the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training has included supplementary reading material on animal rights modules in the curriculum for young children.
The minister said that the reading material would cover basic concepts about animal rights, different forms of abuse and neglect, Islamic principles of animal care, and legal aspects of animal rights.
It would also include strategies to ensure the protection of animals.
He said that animal rights were previously neglected in our society.
Like climate change, it is of imperative importance that its awareness amongst the children of our nation is incorporated, as they are the leaders of tomorrow, he said.
The NCC has developed Supplementary Reading Material (SRM) on Animal Rights to be printed by the National Book Foundation (NBF)
While welcoming the decision of the Education Ministry, Chairperson of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) Rina S Khan termed it a right step in the right direction.
“I think teaching children to care for and respect animals should begin at an early age,” she said.
“World lost 69 per cent animals in last 50 years”
The WWF Living Planet Report 2022 found that, in less than 50 years, the world has lost 69 per cent of all mammal, fish, bird, reptile, and amphibian populations, she added.
The presence of an abundant variety of life on earth is critical for the health of our planet and this must be taught to children from an early age so they grow up to be adults who will protect nature and wildlife, said Rina.
About International Animal Rights Day, she said in a tweet that the day meant to raise awareness of plight of animals. “I would like to draw attention to rights of Common Leopard to live safely in its forest habitat inside Margallah Hills National Park.”
