By Mustafa Khan
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Education has recently announced the approval of the long-awaited National Curriculum of Pakistan. This development comes after a gap of 17 years since the previous curriculum was introduced in 2006. The new curriculum, designed for grades 9 to 12, has undergone an inclusive and comprehensive development process, involving input from various stakeholders.
To ensure a well-rounded and inclusive curriculum, policymakers, academics, practitioners, parents, and students from all over Pakistan were actively engaged throughout the curriculum development process. Extensive consultations were conducted, including policy dialogues and curriculum workshops, both in-person and online, to gather feedback and insights from concerned individuals.
Following regional curriculum workshops held in each province, a final curriculum workshop took place at the NCC Secretariat in Islamabad. Experts from all provinces, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Gilgit Baltistan reviewed and approved the curriculum for nine subjects: Urdu, English, Islamiat, Pakistan Studies, Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Computer Science.
In order to ensure effective implementation, multiple stakeholder meetings were conducted to deliberate on the curriculum. After thorough discussions, the curriculum has been officially notified for implementation in educational institutions in Islamabad Capital Territory and under the Federal Ministries. The notification also includes an implementation plan to guide the execution of the curriculum.
The provinces, in accordance with their respective Acts and laws, will review and notify the curriculum for implementation within their jurisdictions. This decentralized approach aims to cater to regional specificities and local educational needs.
Under the authority granted by the Federal Supervision of Curricula, Textbooks, and Maintenance of Standards of Education Act 1976, Section 3(2)(a), the Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training has approved the National Curriculum of Pakistan (NCP) for grades IX to XII. The approved subjects include Urdu, English, Pakistan Studies, Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Entrepreneurship, and compulsory Islamiat for grades XI and XII. The curriculum will be implemented in both public and private educational institutions across Islamabad Capital Territory and federal government educational institutions nationwide. The implementation for grades XI and XII will begin from the academic year 2024, while for grades IX and X, it will commence from the academic year 2025. The new curriculum will be applicable to all categories of students unless notified separately for specific student groups. An implementation framework accompanies this notification to facilitate the execution of the curriculum.
This significant development in the education sector aims to enhance the quality and relevance of education in Pakistan, aligning it with contemporary standards and addressing the evolving needs of students. The approved National Curriculum is expected to contribute to a comprehensive and holistic learning experience for students, paving the way for their academic success and overall development.
