MARDAN: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is all set to implement the uniform education curriculum policy in the government and private schools with a view to end the class-based education in the province.

This was stated by provincial minister for elementary and secondary education Mohammad Atif Khan while talking to Dawn here on Tuesday.

Mr Atif said different curriculums being taught in schools had been giving birth to two kinds of mindsets in the society thus, hampering country’s prosperity and development.

He said that students of low standard educational institutes faced problems when they applied for jobs along with the students of high standard colleges and varsities.

The minister said measures were being taken to train teachers and print new books for the purpose, adding that books would be distributed to students free of cost.

On the other hand, Tariq Mehmood Yousafzai, deputy registrar of the Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, termed the uniform curriculum plan of the provincial government as unrealistic. He said no groundwork had so far been done to implement the project.

“How is it possible that a matriculation or intermediate government schoolteacher can compete an MPhil or PhD qualified teacher of a private school,” he questioned.

He said the government should train teachers on modern lines before adopting the oxford curriculum in the government schools.

Mohammad Zubair Khan, principal of a government school, said the uniform curriculum policy of the KP government would produce results if it was implemented properly.

Mohammad Tahir Khan, a subject specialist, asked the authorities concerned to complete the printing of new books as soon as possible.

GOVT-TALIBAN TALKS: Provincial minister for elementary and secondary education Mohammad Atif Khan on Tuesday urged the political parties, mediapersons and academia to play role in making the government-Taliban talks fruitful.

He was speaking at the oath taking ceremony of office-bearers of Mardan, Takhbhai and Shergar press clubs. The function was held at Mardan Press Club which was also attended by PTI MPAs Tufail Anjum, Ubaidullah Mayar, Iftikhar Mashwani and representatives of different organisations.

Mr Atif Khan said that Pakistan, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, were passing through a critical juncture and urged all segments of society to play their respective roles to restore durable peace to the country.

The provincial minister asked mediapersons to be fair in their criticism of government policies and

write about the facts and not exaggerate matters to the disadvantage of the country.

Mr Atif said that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led provincial government would come up with the expectation of the people. On the occasion, the office holders of the three press clubs of Mardan district presented souvenirs and shields to the provincial minister and the three MPAs.