Abstract
Pakistani society is facing massive challenges of religious extremism and terrorism in the country. It is observed that the extremism has penetrated in the educational institutions as well. The government has devised a policy to use education as a source to challenge religious extremism and ideologically motivated violence at the campuses in post 9/11 context. This paper aims to investigate the perceptions of university students about the role of curricula and instructions in reducing the challenge of religious extremism and terrorism at the campuses. Quantitative research design was followed to execute the inquiry. 3875 students selected from the 16 public and private sector universities of the country were included in the sample. A self-developed close ended questionnaire comprising 58 items was used to collect data. The information was collected on 5 point Likert type scale. Focus of the data collection was on examining the awareness of the research participants about proliferating religious extremism, violence and its causes in Pakistani context. Data were analyzed using statistical techniques. Findings of the inquiry demonstrate that students are aware of the issue and its causes in but they do not widely support the idea that our universities have potential to intellectually combat the terrorism. Revision in the curricula and teachers training process shifting its direction toward more liberal and democratic education system was recommended as outcome of the inquiry.
Keyword(s)
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