ISLAMABAD: The federal government is optimistic about introducing single national curriculum across the country from upcoming academic session starting in August.

“We have completed our arrangements and now books are being printed. From August this year single national curriculum will be introduced across the country at primary level,” said head of National Curriculum Council (NCC) Rafique Tahir while talking to Dawn, adding all provinces are on board.

“Earlier, Sindh had some reservation, but now it too has agreed to adopt core subjects but it will do make some addition that is its right and good thing,” he said and added that NCC has already asked all provinces to make addition if they want.

NCC chief says it will be introduced at primary level this year

He said that the Sindh government through official letter has informed NCC about adoption of core subjects.

“Through a letter they [Sindh] have shown willingness to adopt core subjects under single national curriculum,” the NCC head said.

He said provinces had started printing books for primary level and for Islamabad based schools National Book Foundation had started publishing books. “All provinces are making efforts to get the books published well in time. And it is decided that Gilgit-Baltistan will buy books from the Punjab government,” he said.

Asked about some private schools, which have started their academic session in April instead of August, he said that these private schools before starting academic session consulted with NCC and “we provided them basic theme of single national curriculum so that they could take start from available books/literature. But in August, all government and private schools will adopt single national curriculum based books,” he said and added that private publishers have also been given permission to publish books.

The NCC chief said that from next year, the NCC will introduce single national curriculum from class six to eight and then in 2023, the single national curriculum will be introduced from class nine to 12.

“We are finalising draft for single national curriculum for class six to eight,” he said and added that from May 24 to 28 a national conference will be held which will be attended by all stakeholders to finalise the draft. He said then draft curriculum will be presented to the federal government for final approval.

He said that last week, a one day workshop on Urdu orthography in connection with introducing single national curriculum was also held at National Language Promotion Department. He said that in the workshop experts gave their opinion with reference to Urdu Orthography and Curriculum for class VI to VIII.

The head of NCC said that the aim of the workshop was to create a consensus among experts across the country so that the difficulties in the curriculum regarding Urdu orthography could be overcome.

Introducing single national curriculum based education across the country was part of manifesto of ruling PTI, which under the supervision of Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood last year started the project. The purpose of this initiative is to provide equal opportunities to all students of the country to excel.

However, some officials have doubt if it will be implemented across the country in true letter and spirit as apparently upscale private schools would not like to offer same syllabus, which is being taught in government run schools. “If implemented in true sprit, this initiative will bring a real revolution and tabdeeli in country. But time will prove that to which extend it will be implemented,” said an official of the education ministry.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2021