Teaching human rights through global education to teachers in Pakistan

Abstract

Pakistan is home to religious and cultural ideologies that greatly support the values of human rights. Nevertheless, the multilayered philosophies of human rights in Pakistan have at times heightened clashes and bred a culture of tension among higher education learners. Ideological filters in national education policies have removed human rights elements from the curriculum, making it more difficult to shape positive attitudes of students and teachers toward human rights. This article outlines the challenges and opportunities of teaching human rights education to Muslim teachers, and traces the national conceptualization of globalization and the state of human rights in Pakistan. It then discusses how policies and curricula, particularly in teacher education, can address human rights values even in the face of prevailing challenges and ideological resistance. Finally, it reflects on the challenges and prospects of teaching a global human rights course to prospective teachers in Pakistan.