Primary schools may get uniform syllabus next year
Education minister opens three-day conference to hammer out a single curriculum for junior classes
PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
A uniform national primary school curriculum will come into force in all schools across the country from the academic year starting in April 2021.
This was stated by the Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood on Tuesday while inaugurating a four-day National Conference on Single National Curriculum (Grade I-V) in Islamabad.
The minister asserted that the government cannot fix everything immediately. However, the enforcement of a uniform curriculum will lay the foundations for uniting the nation.
After the 18th Constitutional Amendment, school curricula became a provincial subject. In the private sector, there are boards such as the Cambridge schooling system and the Agha Khan Education Board as well. These could pose an obstacle to the government’s plan.
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The new, unitary national curriculum, will hopefully surpass the standards of the current syllabus taught at premier English medium schools of the country, Mahmood hoped.
The conference began with the slogan of "One Nation, One Curriculum," organised by National Curriculum Council (NCC) of the Ministry for Federal Education and Professional Training.
Mehmood termed it a historic day, as the government has managed to introduce uniform education system across the country which will bring about major reforms in the society.
He added, "The coming generations will be proud of us for introducing educational reforms."
He further said that that Prime Minister Imran Khan has been pointing out that the current, multi-layered curriculum, was one of the main reasons for divisions and gulfs amongst different strata of the society and had assigned him the task of working out a new, national single curriculum after assuming office.
Parallel education systems in the country have dampened the passions and abilities of the nation by bringing up youth with conflicting views about society, culture and religion, a divergent thought processes and professional capabilities, the education minister said.
"Multiple education systems in the country dividing the society according to social classes is a failure of the state,” the minister said, adding, Mahmood lauded the role of madrassas in providing an education to the poor and deprived children free-of-cost along with the provisions of boarding, lodging and clothing.
Under the current education system, he said, the standards of education for the rich and the poor are markedly distinct. English medium schools gave an edge to their students to grab key posts, he contended.
"We have had to face huge challenges when the prime minister tasked us with bring a uniform education system,” the minister said, explaining that it was no longer possible to bring all stakeholders on to one platform, especially after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, which has declared education a provincial subject. Despite that, the minister said that he was pleased to receive full support and cooperation of all stakeholders, including madrassas and private schools.
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"Yet, there were other challenges, especially the language of new single curriculum, and review of the current examination system," he added.
He called upon participants to take up the challenge unanimously and passionately. "You have to think that how upcoming generations can become truly Muslim, and good Pakistanis through the new syllabus. The new curricula should also teach ethics to the minorities according to their religious beliefs," he added.
Ministry for Federal Education Joint Education Adviser Rafiq Tahir gave a detailed presentation on the goals, key features of the four-day conference.
He added that during the conference, stakeholders will deliberate on various areas of the new curriculum and then the recommendations would be presented to the minister.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 12th, 2020.
A uniform national primary school curriculum will come into force in all schools across the country from the academic year starting in April 2021.
This was stated by the Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood on Tuesday while inaugurating a four-day National Conference on Single National Curriculum (Grade I-V) in Islamabad.
The minister asserted that the government cannot fix everything immediately. However, the enforcement of a uniform curriculum will lay the foundations for uniting the nation.
After the 18th Constitutional Amendment, school curricula became a provincial subject. In the private sector, there are boards such as the Cambridge schooling system and the Agha Khan Education Board as well. These could pose an obstacle to the government’s plan.
Selling ‘overpriced’ uniform, stationery in Sindh private schools banned
The new, unitary national curriculum, will hopefully surpass the standards of the current syllabus taught at premier English medium schools of the country, Mahmood hoped.
The conference began with the slogan of "One Nation, One Curriculum," organised by National Curriculum Council (NCC) of the Ministry for Federal Education and Professional Training.
Mehmood termed it a historic day, as the government has managed to introduce uniform education system across the country which will bring about major reforms in the society.
He added, "The coming generations will be proud of us for introducing educational reforms."
He further said that that Prime Minister Imran Khan has been pointing out that the current, multi-layered curriculum, was one of the main reasons for divisions and gulfs amongst different strata of the society and had assigned him the task of working out a new, national single curriculum after assuming office.
Parallel education systems in the country have dampened the passions and abilities of the nation by bringing up youth with conflicting views about society, culture and religion, a divergent thought processes and professional capabilities, the education minister said.
"Multiple education systems in the country dividing the society according to social classes is a failure of the state,” the minister said, adding, Mahmood lauded the role of madrassas in providing an education to the poor and deprived children free-of-cost along with the provisions of boarding, lodging and clothing.
Under the current education system, he said, the standards of education for the rich and the poor are markedly distinct. English medium schools gave an edge to their students to grab key posts, he contended.
"We have had to face huge challenges when the prime minister tasked us with bring a uniform education system,” the minister said, explaining that it was no longer possible to bring all stakeholders on to one platform, especially after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, which has declared education a provincial subject. Despite that, the minister said that he was pleased to receive full support and cooperation of all stakeholders, including madrassas and private schools.
Punjab Police ‘expedite’ work on new uniforms
"Yet, there were other challenges, especially the language of new single curriculum, and review of the current examination system," he added.
He called upon participants to take up the challenge unanimously and passionately. "You have to think that how upcoming generations can become truly Muslim, and good Pakistanis through the new syllabus. The new curricula should also teach ethics to the minorities according to their religious beliefs," he added.
Ministry for Federal Education Joint Education Adviser Rafiq Tahir gave a detailed presentation on the goals, key features of the four-day conference.
He added that during the conference, stakeholders will deliberate on various areas of the new curriculum and then the recommendations would be presented to the minister.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 12th, 2020.