Draft uniform curriculum policy completed
The government has drafted a uniform curriculum policy after lengthy consultations between the provinces and other concerned authorities, with provinces retaining some flexibility to add materials.
During the meeting of the third National Curriculum Council held in Islamabad on Wednesday with Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood in the chair, issues of the draft curriculum were discussed.
Education ministers from the provinces, the concerned ministerial and departmental secretaries and other officials participated in the meeting.
A statement issued after the meeting said that workshops on the uniform national curriculum were held in all four provinces while a four-day workshop was also held at the national level.
Mehmood said that the issue of the uniform national curriculum was very close to the government, noting that it will help eliminate the class system in education.
On the issue of languages and mediums of instruction, he clarified that there is no ambiguity on the issue, adding that teachers can teach in the language which is easier for their students to understand.
Moreover, the federal education minister said that English will be taught as a foreign language. The federal government should develop a model textbook that is a benchmark for all provinces and units, he added.
Mahmood further said provinces can also introduce additional materials to the curriculum while taking care that students are not overburdened.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 23rd, 2020.