Students get language choice

Punjab Textbook and Curriculum Board updates class IX syllabus.

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LAHORE:

The Punjab Textbook and Curriculum Board has prepared a new syllabus of 9th class, under which the students will read seven books in Urdu or English as per their choice.

The provincial government has also established a skill development and entrepreneurship department, under which the all functions of technical education and assessment will be fulfilled.

According to officials, the government had decided to change the 9th class curriculum as part of efforts to upgrade the standard of education in the province.

Following the instructions of the Punjab government, the curriculum and textbook board has prepared updated syllabus.

A senior official said the 9th class students will have a choice in the coming academic year to study in Urdu or English.

The students of the class currently are bound to study in English and the Punjab Textbook and Curriculum Board publishes the books in the language.

A senior official of the board said students in various districts had been facing problems in studying in English language and the complaints had been brought to the knowledge of Punjab government.

Following the instructions of the government, the subject specialists of the Punjab Textbook Board have prepared the new syllabus.

"In the coming academic year, there will be seven books of Urdu, mathematics, English, computer science, physics, chemistry and biology. The Punjab Textbook and Curriculum Board has told all education boards of the province about the updated course and asked them to be prepare for implementing it," the official said.

All the boards of intermediate and secondary education in the province will conduct the 9th class exams in 2026 as per the new curriculum, the official added.

In another development, the Punjab government has established a new department of skill development and entrepreneurship.

The technical and vocational training institutions, Punjab Board of Technical Education, skill development authority and fund will work under the department.

The Governor's Secretariat has issued an ordinance for setting up the department.

"A large number of employees of the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority and technical boards were a burden on the government since their appointment around two decades ago as both departments were offering course that were not in line with modern demands," said an official.