Heritage Now: On culture, education and youth engagement
A panel of local and international expertise at the Heritage Now festival discussed and explored various methods to involve children and youth on how to preserve and value tangible and intangible heritage. Photo: Twitter
Heritage Now, held at the Alhamra offered a variety of panel discussions on a variety of topics celebrating the culture and heritage of Pakistan.
The panel discussion on Education, Culture and Youth Engagement was moderated by Vibeke Jensen, Director of UNESCO Pakistan.
Panelists in the discussion included Allah Bakhsh Malik Education Secretary, Punjab, Nick Merriman from the Manchester Museum, UK, Sajida Vandal from THAAP, Pakistan, Johannes Beltz from Museum Rietberg in Switzerland and Abbas Rashid from the Society for the Advancement of Education.
The panelists presented various forms of education that have been included in the curriculum and emphasised the importance of including culture education in schools.
In his presentation Dr. Johannes Beltz, deputy director of Musem Rietberg of Zurich emphasised the importance of engaging communities with local museums. He spoke on the necessity of making museums easily accessible to children.
Beltz spoke about his museum where children interact with numerous artists, people from different cultures and faiths.
From around the world, these people introduce and expand the knowledge of children about religion, culture and languages, he explained.
Children are also encouraged to participate in various activities, workshops held inside the museum.
Beltz believes this kind of interaction, provides children to be aware of what other people believe and he explains that it is necessary in the modern world where tolerance is needed.
"If children enter into a mosque or a temple they will be aware of what other people believe in and about their culture," he said.
Nick Merriman, director of Manchester Museum spoke on the importance of museums and how he has tried to engage many residents of Manchester who are from different parts of the world.
He added that Manchester Museum works with not just children but with senior citizens and new mothers.
Their museum accommodates people from all age groups from new mothers, to dementia patients and also people with autism. Merriman emphasised on the importance of allowing people to visit museum at any time of the day.
“Seventy percent of our visitors come in families as we hold activities for families,” he added.
Allah Baksh Malik, Secretary, Punjab said that they have successfully inculcated cultural and heritage values into the school curriculum.
Malik said: “We should reflect regional and cultural identities of communities in curriculum.”
Malik stated that the government is taking measures to preserve heritage. "Quality education being implemented in Pakistan’s syllabus is free of gender bias and promotes positive image of girls and women and the content reflects democratic and ethical values.”
Sajida Vandal spoke about a few schools that have tried integrating culture education in their schools which were successful.
On a joint venture with UNESCO she said, “After doing a project with UNESCO in 2013, we felt the need for joint efforts to better education system,” she said.
Abbas Rashid on the panel discussed about the importance of reading and promoting it in children. Rashid gave details on one of their story book project which was later aired on radio to allow school going children to learn about the history and cultural monuments of Pakistan.
According to Sahe, "The books constitute supplementary reading material for students in grades 4 – 8. The objective of the books is to promote pluralism, tolerance and mutual respect. At the core of this initiative is to make better citizens.The books chronicle the journeys of 11-year old Bano and 8-year old Raja who travel with their father Mian Ji, a railway driver, around the country in their summer holidays.
"The books are interspersed, therefore, with the siblings’ notes about the historical sites, landscape, flora and fauna that are found in these places."
Panelists concluded that there museums in cities are of great importance. Beltz concluded that museums in Pakistan needed more staff so that they could give visitors a tour. Panelists added that schools need to integrate and engage children and youth in various activities promoting cultural sensitivity.
