سیکولرازم اور مسلم معاشرے میں اس کا ارتقاء: تحقیقی مطالعہ

The concept of Secularism came to the Muslim world after Renaissance. Historically, the initial thoughts on the subject are found in the teachings of Greek Philosophers like Epicurus and Zeno. It was at first a discussion regarding the separation of religion and the state, the scientific advancements and the regime system in Modern Europe. Religion was considered as an obstacle by the West in their progress on the basis of reason and inquiry. Adaptation of secular approach helped the western countries to flourish in material fields. In Islamic world, secularism was not seen as a threat for religion before the twentieth century. Under colonization of many Muslim countries and particularly after the demise of Ottoman Empire which paved way to abolish Caliphate, the Muslim states adopted various western secular laws. Moreover, the Muslim countries went under heavy debts taken from European countries. They relied on foreign advisors and western education system for progress. The concept regarding the authority of Caliph changed. During the twentieth century, Muslim countries suffered politically and their geographical frontiers were changed. It created a kind of revolution in Muslim states. Revival of religious authority in modern political Muslim states is visible in central eastern countries during the last fifty years.

Exploring the Current Classroom Assessment Practices of English Language at Secondary Level in a Private Secondary School of District Ghizer, Gilgit-Baltistan

There is scant literature available on the classroom-based English language assessment practices (APs) in Pakistan, particularly in Gilgit-Baltistan. Therefore, this study explored the current classroom-based English language APs for grade 9 and 10 level in a private secondary school in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The focus of the study was to gain an understanding of the interplay of English language APs and English language learning at the secondary level by exploring the phenomenon and to gather data on the APs being used by grade 9 and 10 teachers in the research site.The study sought to explore a phenomenon contextually and in-depth. This required adopting a qualitative case study design. Interviews, classroom observations, focus group discussions and document analysis were the methods used for the study. The generated data was analyzed using qualitative data analysis approach Yin, (2009). The primary research participants were 2 English language teachers and 12 students served as secondary participants: 6 students were from grade 9 and 6 were from grade 10. In the School of Shining Education (pseudonym), English language APs at grade 9 and 10 level seem to be shaped by different factors. These include: the pattern of the annual board examination, teachers’ perceptions and experiences, the textbooks of grade 9 an10, teachers performance appraisal, the availability of teaching resources and the expectations from students’ parents. The study also explored teachers’ perceptions about the English language assessment practices at the secondary level because perceptions affect practice. In view of this, the study explored teachers’ claim about teaching and assessing English as a language not as a subject. However, the study findings suggest that their teaching pedagogy is likely inclined towards teaching and assessing English as a subject owing to the contextual challenges and limitations. In conclusion, the findings of the study suggest that better language learning might be achieved through the use of a dynamic approach (using alternative assessment strategies) to classroom assessment. One practical way forward as regards enhancing the assessment practices would be to make the English language teaching more practical and skills-based. In this way, English can be taught and assessed as a language not as a subject. In doing so, It will align with the aims of the National Curriculum for English Language Grades I-XII, NC (2006) which stipulates the same.