Ideology in English Textbooks: A Case Study of Matric Level Books in Punjab

Abstract

In many nations debates over the content and format of school textbooks are sites of educational and political conflict. The research argues that school textbook knowledge is socially constructed and textbook contents are manufactured by powerful groups according to their ideological vision. The research covers four dimensions firstly the selection of material and their thematic sequence in the textbooks present Islam not simply as a belief system but a political ideology that must be accepted by all citizens.Secondly; the textbooks offer a biased treatment of non-Muslim citizens in Pakistan, thirdly; the vocabulary in the textbooks underscores Islamic teaching as Hajj, Zakat ,prayers, and little is mentioned about critical thinking, civic participation, or democratic values of freedom of speech, equality, and respect for cultural and religious diversity.