ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: The ongoing review of the national education policy is likely to be delayed as Javed Hassan Aly, heading the review team, has resigned from the job due to serious differences with Federal Education Minister Javed Ashraf Qazi, reliable sources told Dawn.

Mr Aly, a former federal secretary, was hired by the education ministry as consultant of the national education review team in special grade (MP-I) in September 2005.

Recently, the review team issued a whitepaper to solicit general public response to make final recommendations for the education policy. The whitepaper drew opinion and analysis from prominent educationists and policymakers.

According to sources, the education minister was of the view that the new education policy should be formulated keeping in mind the government’s overall policies, but Mr Aly wanted taking all stakeholders on board. The whitepaper recommended mother tongue as the language of instruction during primary education, but the government had decided to start English from class I as a compulsory subject.

Aabira Afgan, another official of the team, has also resigned with her team leader.

The national education policy (1998-2010) is being reviewed keeping in view developments at domestic and international fronts.