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Written question asked by Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee (Non-affiliated) on Tuesday, 2 December 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 December 2025. It was answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Labour) on Friday, 19 December 2025 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Pakistan: Education

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington (HL12023), whether they will now answer the question put: namely, what verification of education materials funded through UK aid in Pakistan has been undertaken; whether it has been verified that those materials meet UNESCO standards of peace, tolerance, and equality; and what plans they have to publish the outcome of any such verification.

Answer

As I stated in my response to Question HL11399, all our education programmes in Pakistan are subject to due diligence, and any materials provided under those programmes are reviewed for equity across gender, ability, ethnicity, and religion before being shared with government counterparts.

On the broader issue of textbooks used in Pakistani schools, we are clear that any incitement to hatred or violence is unacceptable and has no place in education, and we urge the Pakistani authorities to ensure that all teaching materials used in their schools meet the relevant United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) standards.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL12552
Session
2024-26
Related items
Pakistan: Education
Monday, 1 December 2025
Written questions
House of Lords
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Education Development aid Equality Discrimination Peace Standards UNESCO Pakistan
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk