Punjab Government Adopts Single National Curriculum For Grade 1 to 5 From Next Academic Session

The Punjab government has adopted the single national curriculum for grades 1 to 5 from the next academic session. The provincial cabinet of Punjab has approved the implementation plan of the syllabus in its 39th meeting. Due to the coronavirus, the new academic session will be started in August instead of March so from the next session the students will study the textbooks designed according to the single national curriculum. The federal government has developed the model textbooks as per the guidelines of the concerned officials. The SNC will be adopted by all the public and the private sector educational institutes across Pakistan. Moreover, the government has also directed the seminaries to follow the national curriculum. 

The implementation of the single national curriculum will pave the pathway to provide quality education to all the students. The students could have a fair and equal opportunity to get an education. According to the 18th constitutional amendment, education is a provincial matter so all the provincial governments have the right to develop the textbooks as per the standardized curriculum. However, the Sindh education minister has opposed the decision of the federal government to adopt the curriculum at the national level. But in the province of Punjab, the provincial government has decided to implement the curriculum from the academic year 2021. Previously the government had declared to enforce a uniform curriculum across Pakistan

Earlier the launching ceremony of the SNC was held by the Punjab curriculum and textbook board. The Punjab education minister, Murad Raas was the chief guest of the ceremony; he said that it is the responsibility of the government to provide the common platform of assessment to all the students. The minister also applauded the contributions and the pivotal role of the school education department, PCTB, and the federal government to take this initiative. He further added that in the 21st century, it is significant to include technical and vocational education in the curriculum of the schools.