The National Education Commission 1959 had already recommended these proposals.

The National Education Commission 1959 had already recommended these proposals.[^132] The government intended to modernize the system of education reforming the maktabs and madaris . Under this scheme the primary education as approved by the department of education was to be compulsory for all the students of affiliated madaris. [^133] It is to be noted that the sphere of reform in the syllabus was limited to the non-religious subjects as taught in madaris.

The report recommended that logic and philosophy be cut down which were considered essential for the religious study in the past and formed part of Dars-i-Nizami. [^134] Great emphasis was given to Quranic studies, hadith, and early Islamic history.

Table 3.1 Proposals and Changes of the Committee of 1960/61 Primary Level Lower Secondary Middle Secondary Upper Secondary Highest Level Arabic Ibteddiyah Thanawi tahtani Thanawi wustani thanawi fawqani Al,la (sic) Duration 5 years 3 years 2 years 2 years 3 years Class 1-5 6-8 9-10 11-12 13-15 Suggestions and modifications by the committee According to directions of the Ministry of Education More Qur’an and Hadith Prophet`s tradition Islamic Law Modern Arabic lit English Mathematics Social sciences Sports Urdu Islamic History Alternative Books English Sports Optional subject (preferably Urdu Principals of Tafsir More Hadith Modern Arabic lit English Less philosophy Less Logic 1.

History of Hadith 2. fatawa 3.Modern Philosophy Summary Innovations All but two are new subjects; Arabic and English preferred All subjects are new and obligatory All subjects are new or modified: four subjects are obligatory, one is optional English and subsidiary subjects are additional; in the final year only the study of hadith Sources: Based on the Report of Committee set up by the Governor of West Pakistan for recommending improved syllabus for the various Dar-ul-Ulooms and Arabic Madrasahs in West Pakistan, in Malik, Jamal, Colonization of Islam , 1996.

The changes in syllabus were aimed at reforming a system geared more towards an effective and realistic education which would limit the Dars-i-Nizami , fade out non- religious subjects and extend courses to ten years preceded by five years of primary education.[^135] The term non-religious remained disputed between the modernists and the clergy.[^136] The proposed scheme made more space for new subjects aimed at bringing about basic changes in religious education.