I AM a student of intermediate pre-medical studying in a college in Islamabad. The six subjects I am studying are English, biology, chemistry, physics, Pakistan studies and Urdu. The syllabus of English, biology, chemistry, physics and Urdu is based on National Curriculum 2006, whereas the syllabus of Pakistan studies is based on National Curriculum 2000.

It is highly disappointing that all students throughout Pakistan are being taught a syllabus that is 15-20 years old. Not only is the syllabus outdated, it consists of topics which will not give students much benefit at all in the future. However, if it is important to teach these topics, then only short and brief notes should be given in the book.

Where the world is focussing on making robots and rockets to reach other planets, we are still being taught an outdated syllabus. The current government had repeatedly promised the youth that it would rectify the education system, but it is yet to deliver on that promise.

The party never tires of telling everyone that the future of the country is dependent on the youth, which of course is true, but if the youth is being taught an outdated syllabus, then nothing much can be expected of them.

The government officials argue that the education ministry is going to introduce a Single National Curriculum (SNC). It is a good initiative, but the syllabus is still the same.

Unless the syllabus is updated and the teaching techniques and standards are modified, Pakistan will struggle to progress because its success revolves around its youth.

Muhammad Abdullah Khan
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2021